Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-01
COOLIDGE CONFERS
ON COAL SHORTAGE
Seeks Assurance Everything
Will Be Done to Give In
dustries Relief
OUTPUT EQUAL; CARS SHORT

Washington, July /. - Governor
Coolidge, of Massachusetts,. who was
here yesterday to confer with Senator
Harding, the Republican candidate for
President, discussed the general coal
situation with Chairman Clark, OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission. and
Commissioners Aitchison, Eastman ana
Potter.
The governor said that the serious
ness of the fuel situation throughout
the country, especially In New Eng
hnd, had led him to seek assurances
from the commission that everything
possible would be done to provide relief.
While the commissions order giving
preference to coal shipments for New
England and other domestic ports
seemed to be the best remedy, the gov
ernor said the commissioners had as
sured him that IL this did not meet the
emergency all other steps possible would
be taken. Coal production apparently
is ample for the nations needs. the
governor explained. but because, OF the
transportation situation the problem OIL
distribution has proved extremely DIM
cult. The railroads are cooperating,
he said, and the outlook Is brighter. =,
The governor declared thnt whiie
exports Of coal were not large in per-
centage, they were still In large enough
volume to cause concern IN view OF the
urgent domestic needs. In his Judg-
ment. domestic requirements should be
taken care of first.
Basis Of Coal. Profit Margin
The "margin" between the cost per
tof, of coal at the mine and the sales
realization price should not be taken as
showing the profit per ton on coal ac-
cruing to the operator, Nelson b. Cas-
kill. Of the Federal Trade Commission,
said yesterday in a letter to J.. d. A..
Morrow, vice president Of the National
Coal Association.
The letter was in reply to one from
Mr.. Morrow protesting against an erro-
neous Interpretation placed upon the
published report of the commission
showing production costs Of bituminous
coal for March, 1920. The report
showed margin between production
cost and selling price Of forty two cents
per ton against twenty nine cents per
ton in February. And from this 1t had
been stated that the indicated profit OF
the operators had been increased thir-
teen cents, or As per cent, ton.
THE current cost bulletins do not
show the operators profits and do not
purport to do so," Commissioner Gaskill
said "They show only the difference
between the selling price and the cost
of producing coal at the mine. Proft
can only be shown IL from the margin
between the selling price and cost at the
mine there are deducted the proper
allowance for selling cost, interest, taxes
and other items.
d. and o. Enjoined on Distribution
Injunction suits against railroads in
tended to prevent discrimination in the
distribution of cars at coal mines will
be filed wherever necessary to breal
up the assigned car practice 1t was
announced yesterday by the National
Coal Association.
The announcement followed the re-
ceipt Of a message from Rush G. But,
Ter, of Chicago, general counsel for thu
association, advising that Federal Judg,
Dayton, at Philippi, w. Va, hat
granted temporary injunction agains
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Co.
directing equitable distribution of cars
Charleston, w. Va, July /. - Sui
was entered in the Kanawha Circuit
Court yesterday by the Leeval Coal Co
against the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail
road Co. to test the right OF the rail
road to give preference in assigned carr
to coal mines furnishing fuel coal to tn,
railroads. While the suit is In the nam'
of the Leeval Co., it is understood tha
practically all operators in the Kama
wha, New River and Guyan Vale!
! fields who have no railroad contract!
are interested.