New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-24
President May
Stop Export of
Coal i'm Crisis
War Powers May Be EN-
ployed if Priority Orders
Fail TO Bring Results;
Palmer to Consult Experts
Conference Here tuesday
Federal Labor Conciliators
Sent 10 Illinois to Try
to Adjust Mine Strike


.gss that already grip some parts of
.ss country and threaten other parts
,ls;u,ed the attention to-day of gov
snmcnt departments.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
zion was urged to order priority in the
,;6eyater movement of coal to New
England and Illinois operators renewed
.he;r appeal to the White House for
government intervention in the mine
laSorers strike, which is reported to
hsye closed down half their mines,
Relief for New England was promised
through early action of the commission
ard the appeal of the Illinois operators
was answered by the despatch of three
government labor conciliators to the
strike districts.
Attorney General Palmer after a
brief conference late in the day with
coal men announced he had called an
informal meeting of score of mine
operators, coal exporters and repre-
seutatives of manufacturing interests
,or next Tuesday in New York. Dis
cussion Of the coal situation at this
conference. Mr.. Palmer said, would be
thorough He added:
1T is our purpose to consider the
general situation with view to obtain
he advice and assistance of business
men with respect to existing conditions
in the coal industry"
Wilson May Use War Powers
Rumors were current that President
Wilson had asked Mr.. Palmer to take
hand in the situation. but these were
denied at the Department of Justice.
Il was said Mr.. Palmer would attend
the conference in New York in order
TO get picture" of the fuel shortage,
both real and threatened, so the gov
eminent would be in position to take
necessary steps "if any arc required."
The President still may employ his
war powers in remedying menacing
conditions and it was indicated these
powers might be called into use in
laying ban on export should the
priority orders of the Interstate Com
merce Commission fail to bring salts
taken up at the New York meeting
portation problems and production.
The proposal for priority in tide
water movement for New England was
made TO the Interstate Commerce Com
mission by the National Coal Associa-
ton. New England Coal Wholesalers
and railway executives. The proposal
e0ntemplates movement of 1,25O,000
tons month through Hampton Roads,
Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York.
An additional all-rail movement to
New England of 10000 tons q month
vas promised by cooperative efforts of
The carriers and the operators. The
water and rail movements under the
plan would continue until April |, 1921.
The proposed priority order also would
prohibit the railroads from transports
Ing coal consigned to any other desti-
nation than New England until after
the daily assigned quota OF each ship
per Tor New England had been moved
This would. in effect, amount to an
embargo on the export of coal from
the district affected by the order.
President Reassures Governors
The proposal of the coal operators
and railway executives was taken under
AMUSEMENT by the commission and
some order bearing on the New Eng
land situation is expected to be issued
In the course of few days.
Inc Illinois operators in renewing
their appeal at the White House were
understood to have opposed reopening
CT the wage question for conside ra ton
OF the demand of mine laborers or
SHIFT men for 81 a day increase in
pay.
Almost simultaneously with the dis
patch OF conciliators TO Illinois the
"nite House announced the messages
mat had been sent to the governors OF
vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut.
massachusetts,, Rhode Island and the
State Chamber of Commerce of Maine.
1nese messages, sent by Secretary
Iumulty, read
answering your telegram with ref
srence to the coal situation in New
England, the President directs me to
say that he has kept in touch with the
various departments handling this i'm
portant matter during the last week
ana ne is now able to state that as
result of these conferences coal in
sunclent quantities for the needs of
mat community would be delivered to
new England. The President wishes
NE TO assure you that everything that
can be done in this vital matter is
being done"
:, Similar kilograms with reference to
1He coal situation in the Northwest
we're sent to the governors of North
eAu south Dakota and Wisconsin.