The Washington times., 1920-07-24
us. TOSOLVE.
COAL PROBLEM
Every Government Agency Try
ing to UnraveI Badly Compli-
Gated Fuel Situation.

bending efforts TO straighten out the
badly complicated coal situation.
The Interstate Commerce coPmis-
sion is considering further issuance
OF priority orders for coal and 10 also
using all OF it's power to obtain suf-
rcient cars for the transportation or
all coal mined during the suNmer
months. The Car Service Commission
10 working upon the problem OF the
car shortage and IL Is expected that
by the Issuance OF local orders the
situation can be relieved.
The Department OF Labor through
conciliators is endeavoring to wipe
out labor troubles in the coal nelds,
particularly in the Illinois nelds.
where strikes now are in progress.
The National Coal Association Is aur
thority for the statement that the
Illinois strikes are responsible for
stoppage in production of approx
mately 337.5o0 tons OF coal day.
Hugh Kerwin, of the Bureau OF Me-
diation and Cancellation Of the De-
pArtment OF Labor, today expressed
hope that the Illinois difficulty might
be ironed out, and II Is expected that
conciliators will meet with the
strikers today or tomorrow.
PROBING ENTIRE SITUATION.
The Department OF Justice is in
vestigating the entire situation and
local agents have orders to keep a
particular watch upon any efforts to
restrict production. Attorney Gem
eral Palmer has called a meeting OF
coal operators. manufacturers, ana
transportation men, to be held In
New York next Tuesday to c:.cuss
the entire situation and to consult
upon possible steps which might be
taken by the Government to aid.
The Navy Department is attempt
ing to aid the situation by keeping
it's fuel purchases to a minimum, ana
through efforts to secure it's fuel sup
ply for the. Pacific fleet from far
Western sources. 1t Is hoped that
the Alaskan coal supply may be made
available to the Pacifc fleet In SUI
ncient time TO relieve the situation
in the East and the Northwest.
President Wilson is watching tho
situation carefully and it is UNDER
stood that he has asked all depart-
ment heads in Cabinet sessions 10
use their efforts to wipe out the
problem of the fuel shortage.
The President yesterday through
his secretary, Joseph P. Tumulty. as
sured the executives of New England
and Northwestern states that coai
in sufffcient quantities FOR the
needs" of their communities VIII Dc
delivered.
TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR
The telegram, addressed to Govern
ors Clement of Vermont, Barrett OF
New Hampshire, Holcomb of Connec-
ticut, Beckman OF Rhode Island
and the State Chamber of Commerce
and Agritulcural League of Maine
read as follows:
answering your telegram with
reference to the coal sitaution in New
England, the President directs me
to say that he has kept in touch
with the various departments ham
ding this important matter during
the past weeks and he is now able 10
state that as a result OF these con-
ferences, coal in sufficient quantities
for the needs OF that community
will be delivered to New England.
The President wishes me to assure
you that everything that can be done
in this vital matter is being done.
A similar telegram relative to the
coal situation in the Northwest was
sent Governors Frazier OF Nortn
Dakota, Norberck OF South Dakota.
and Phillip of Wisconsin.
PRESIDENT MAY APPEAL.
President Wilson has under consiC-
GRAFTON plan toll upon the leaders
of workers to use their efforts 10
eradicate all labor troubles in the
coal industry especially in the llli-
nois fields, IL was stated at tho White
House today.
If the President takes such action.
IL is understood that 1t will be in
telegraphic appeal to all mine l-ao-
ers.
The President is expected TO reply
today to an appeal from Governor
Goodrich, of Indiana, that he appoint
a fuel administrator. 1t was strongly
indicated that the President viii de-
cline to take such action in the ap-
sence OF Congress.
The Department of Labor today an
nounced the concilliators assigned to
the Illinois strike as follows:
John Il. Lennon, of Bloomington
Ill, member of the Industrial Rela-
tions Commission in 1913; William II.
Rogers. of Iowa, former officer of the
Mine workers Association of Iowa.
and John ]. Walsh, of Indiana for
mer member OF the Indiana State La
Dor Commission.
The mediators were ordered to pro-
ceed at once to Springfield, Ill, to
confer with the day laborers and the