The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-03-06
Director Hines Re-estab-
kshes Complete Prefer
|. entail Lists.
S. E. Spangler Of Roa-
noke Is Named Chair
man OF the Pocahontas
District { Committee.

Washington, March 5--A coal short
age estimated In the neighborhood OF
| fifty millions tons resulted tonight in
the o m plete establishment Of
preferential lfsts bN Director General
Of Railways walker D. Hines
Acting under the powers conferred
upon him by the president under
executive orders issued February /. "a
and today. Director Hines tonight or
Idered that all producers and shippers
give preference in the shipment OF
bituminous coal as follows.
4. Railroads
O. Army and navy. together with
other departments of the federal gov
isrnment
d state and county departments and
Institutions.
!. !. Public utilities.
s. Retail dealers.
After this preferential list. manu-
facturers engaged in turning out
necessaries are to be allowed coal.
Because OF the severe weather con-
ditions diversion OF coal to New Eng
land by water Will be continued. X be-
ing found impossible to transport suf-
ncient amounts to that section by rail
The preferential lists recalled into
being by Director Hines order of today
are old lists used for the diversion Of
coal during the war by the United
States fuel administration. M
Director Hines fonight also appoint
ed committees. designated with pow
Ars Of his personal representatives t.
place the diversion OF coal according
TO the preferential lists Immediately
into effect The directors or these com-
mittees win be:
II G N. Snider. chairman. eastern
regional coal committee with heac-
quarters ut New York.
W, r. Lamoure, chairman and Janaes
j. Storrow. vice -cfiairman. Etw Eng
land committees; n. A. worcester.
|ehaffrneu Chic Apd fudfxnz committees;
~ a, Fiudiay. chairman. Detroit conn
Eattttee: E, n. Ei1ieN aclsAfrfnAn Ciexe-
IanA c6nnmftkee, BAmu&H ror6haIs schatr4
imam Allegheny coal committee. with
Ihe4AUuxrtsrs NJ Phimdefphta; s. y.
Spenk1er. chairman Pocahontas coal
|committec with headquarters at Roa-
n0ke. Va
The sweeping action OF the director
general was. necessitated, Il was ex-
planned by the number Of urgent rep
IreaentAtires received from public utilI-
It's. schools. Industries and domestic
consumers that they are unable to pur-
chase coal to meet imm ediAte and
pressing need and that they will have
Ito cease operations unless they can se-
cure adequate supplies promptly.
So alarming has the situation be-
come, that Director Hines was today
compelled to call upon President will
son for additional powers In dealing
with the serious shortage. These pow
erB were promptly granted by the pres
ident. In an executive order amplify-
ing his order of February Is, which
with Director Hiaes the pow
ers Of coal distribution even after the
railroads had passed from government
control.
In instructions sent out tonight to
the coal committees named. Director
Hines points out that they ara 10 ex-
ercfse diversions Of coal only in cases
OF emergency. They were Instructed
that diversions be kept ut m absolute
minimum and cease entirely 40 soon ~
possible.
"Ail applicants for coal should ex-
hsuxt all possible means for securing
Coal through the normal channels.
since the power to divert will be only
exercised in emergencies" Mr.. Hines
stated.
In explaining the necessity for plac-
ting in effect these orders, Director
Hines issued the following statement
tonight; II am advised that In the east
ern section OF the country and Ia New
England particularly the severe wealth
er conditions continue to interfere to
q large extent with railroad operations
which Il materially affecting the move
ment Of scoal from the producing Sec
tion1 to the consumers.
TIA coal strike in November ana De-
cemhsr resulted In shortage OF A..
,proximately 50,oo0.oo0 tons OF blum.
incus coal Although during the week