Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-04-14
EDGAR e. CLARK, IOWA MEM.
Der OF COMMERCE BOARD.
APPROVES PENDING BILL.
WOULD VARY COST
WINTER AND SUMMER
Reduction Of so Cents Per Ton
Called for in Frelinohuysen Bill as
lnduosnsnt TO OF. Season Pur-
ohssss in Effort to Prevent Rail-
road Congestion.
fly II. @. Dougherty.l

Washington, April 14.-Edsar e
Clark. Of Cedar Rapids, chairman OF
tho Interstate commerce commission,
has come out strongly in support OF
the Frelinghuysen bill, now before
the senate, regulating the price OF
coal in .ueh a way that 80 cents less
a ton would De charged in tho sum
mer and % cents more than hXed
average price would be charged in
me winter.
Realizing that the transportation
facilities of the country should ne
used In the hauling OF coal IN the
on season" and not in the winter
months. the railroads are confronted
with their greatest strain. Chairman
Clark has written a strong endorse
ment Of the Freiinghuysen bill, AFTER
studying several bills now pending
in congress for The regulation of coal
distribution and Interstate commerce.
This bill proposes to require Oh
servance of seasonal charges on
coal" Mr.. Clark said. discussing the
coal price bill. the purpose being 20
secure a more even distribution OF
coal thruout the year, which, OF
course, would be accompanied with
more uniform use of ears and power
and obviate largely the difficulties
attending the heavy demand and car
shortage in winter and light demand
and idle cars in summer. We are in
full accord with the principles I'M
dGrIy!ng this. ana assume that hear
ings will Do held thereon. 1t is prob
able the necessity OF some modifica-
ton or notifications might appear.
Not Certain on Federal Control.
Chairman Clark, speaking for the
full commission, withheld any rec
concentration regarding the termina-
ton Of federal control Of fuel. Sem
ator Frelinghuysen has bill IN the
senate to end the fuel control
This does not directly AFFECT the
commission or its work" Mr. Clark
wrote. 1T proposes to terminate
federal control of the coal and coke
industry. Whether or not that shall
be done Is, it seems to US, a question
Of policy with regard to which We DO
not feel qualified to express def
mite opinion. The coal and coke in
dustry is rather an unsettled condi-
ton and complications incident to
the termination Of federal control,
the suspension Of activities of the
fuel administration, and settlements
under the report Of the bituTninous
coal commission have arisen. Wheth-
er or not the public will need pro-
lection in prices thru government
regulation or action is probiematical.
This bill would specifically pro-
hibit a carrier from confiscatins
coal in transit without the prior con-
sent Of the owner thereof. A number
Of years ago the commission passed
on complaints Of discrimination by
carriers in handling privately owned
or leased cars and cars for railway
fuel. We ordered removed unjust
discrimination in that they failed to
count such cars against the distrib-
uting shares of the mines. That de-
cision was on petition Of the carriers
enjoined, but the supreme court re-
versed the lower court and sustained
US. From then, there was little con-
troversy about distribution of coal
cars until during the war and federal
railroad control, when the rule was
changed.
The change brought necessity for
widespread confiscstion OF coal, to
meet their imperative fuel need.
Much dissatisfaction had arisen.
committee of the National Coal AS
ISOLATION and Of representatives OF
the railroads are discussing these
matters with view to some accept
able plan obviating the necessity OF
assigning cars for railroad fuel and
also for confiscation. Whether or
not they will be able TO work out
such plan we do not know. II they
do not apparently the commission
must take the matter IN hand and
prescribe reasonable rule Of proce-
dure, which we think the transporta-
ton act empowers US to do
Boies Makes Strong Plea.
Representative Boies, Of the Elev-
enth Iowa district, Is being conapli-
nentsd by his colleagues on the
forceful presentation Of the necessity
for an immediate peace, thru the
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