The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1920-04-16

prices, selling coal and tbrowing the
flow of this important commodity out
of its normal channels, thereby Great
ing congestion and in many instances
embarrassment to the Industries in
various sections of the country" H.
continued:
This is one of the most important
problems that this Congress has to
consider. We have been doing moth
ing in regard to the coal industry.
We pay attention to all other indus
tries, through the Federal Trade
Commission, through the Interior De-
partment, through the Department
of Commerce. through the Shipping
Board, and yet the Government has
no bureau charged with the duty
of handling the coal situation. 1t
has long been neglected, and | intend
to bring that fact to attention and
to propose legislation in regard to 1t.
'In their efforts to do something
with this problem the committee in
tends to propose another measure.
One of the great difficulties at the
present time in regard to the distri-
button of coal is the shortage of cars
at the mines. Every mine operator
in this country is complaining of the
shortage of cars.
zone of the complaints of the min
ers' union was that during the sum
mer months they were idle; that they
did not have the opportunity of work
ing six days in the week, and, there
fore, they demanded a shorter week
and shorter hours, believing that that
would relieve the situation. do not
believe that ever before in the his
tory of the country were the indus
tries not only here but in Europe,
so much in need of coal.
If the mines OF the country are
operated with the present number of
miners, thing about 100000, $50
days a year, there can be produced in
this country 500 900, 900 tons of coal.
The needs of the country are approx
mately 500, 900. 200 tons; Europe will
need from 100, 1000, 900 to 100000
900 tons. Therefore the problem we
have to consider is that of affording
the facilities for the mine operators
to load and transport their coal.
''Now, what does the committee
propose in regard to the car-shortage
problem? They propose bill which.
if enacted, will in general require
freight rates on coal to be 10 per
cent below the tariff rates in the
spring and summer and Is per cent
above the tariff rates in the fall and
winter 1t is my purpose to have this
bill considered by the subcommittee
of the Committee on Interstate Com
merce now investigating the price of
coal.
at is believed that legislation re-
1uiring lower freight rates on coal |
during the spring and summer |
and higher freight rates |
during the fall and winter months, !
would tend to encourage consumers
10 develop storage accommodations, /
20 accept deliveries of coal in advance
If their seasonal needs. and thus to
Keep the mines operating more con-
,tantly throughout the year.
"Such legislation could be expect
I'd to stabilize the price of coal. The
output of all the coal mines
n the United States, assuming fairly
constant operation, would far exceed
he present consumption. The out
,1t O. all these mines working, as at
present, only Internationally during
he spring and summer months, and
working to capacity during the fall
md winter months, is barely suffi-
lent to supply the current needs and
he greatly increased coldweather
or coal, During the winter the de-
nand so nearly equals the currently
vailable supply that scarcity prices
,revail. In addition to this, the ac-
ual cost of production per ton is un-
July enhanced because the operator
must, during the time his mine is
losed down or working intermittent
y, keep together his organization and
xpend money for the upkeep and
of the property, all of
Which must be added to the price of
oal which he mines and sells during
he rush season."
Surgeons agree that in cases of