Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-06-21
BILLS TOPREVENT
COAL CRISIS URGED
Mr.. FreIinghuysen Shows
How Seasonal Freight
Rates Will ForestaII Panic.

Declaring that. next to the railroad
question. the coal problem is the most
vital one confronting the country.
Senator Frelinghuysen strongly urged
upon the Senate yesterday the passage
of the bills prepared by him and re-
ported by the interstate commerce
committee, providing for seasonal coal
freight rates and publicity regarding
| the coal industry.
within the last five years." said
Senator FrelinghuySen, 1.-The country
has suffered from shortage of coal
caused by blizzard, Switchmen's strike
and traffic jam. People have also suf-
persons in the coal trade without con-
science have taken advantage OF the
situation to profiteer. The situation
today is critical and conditions de-
plorable. While it is true that btu
minous coal is cheaper, the mines
/ are idle and labor is unemployed and
production is far behind normal. The
+ people are Indifferent and are not lay
, ing in their stocks. Freight rates are
! sky-high, and unless something is
done to stimulate buying, the panic
price of last year in the late spring
| and summer may be repeated; next
| winter transportation may be over
/ taxed, and If so a shortage will occur.
4 1HcH, 1 iFLily DelleVe, drastic govern
ment action will be again demanded
| by the people. There was plenty of
coal last year, enough labor to mine
1t, but a shortage of cars delayed de-
| liveries and a buyers panic was
caused. This was entirely unneces-
! sary. Had there been a government,
agency, charged with the responsible
! ity of correctly informing the people
(such as this legislation proposes), l
| believe the spectators would have
. hnn I'D H. t. g.
extorti9n.
1.-THE public expects this Congress
to make some effort to relieve this
situation. They will not endure an
other season of prices for coal de-
llvered to the consumer for domestic
and industrial purposes. ranging from
SIS to $50 per ton-a price that taxes
every household. is reflected in the
cost OF production in every factory.
| in railroad and trolley fares, in cost
| of power. gas and electricity, and re-
| tards development of any housing
plan. With enough mines and miners
! to produce 750,0OO,O00 tons a year and
summer months, the condition is one
which can and should be relieved.
Even now, with bituminous coal
a drug on the market, the anthracite
situation is complex. Anthracite for
domestic purposes is selling from s12
| to SIS per ton. while other commodi-
\ ties are selling 20 to 40 per cent low
er than during the war. The opera
| tors, the railroads. with high freight
rates and the dealers are complacent
| over the situation, and no one can
tell why. No one seems to care ex-
cept the consumer, who complains
bitterly, as l will show by letters
which depict deplorable conditions
among those who need coal AL
though the consumer is the largest
part Of human society, interest in him
seems to lag at times.
Facts Before the Public.
| There is nothing in this legislation
| which controls or regulates business
| of the coal operators. 1t does, how
ever. compel full information and pro-
vides for the publication of all facts
regarding the production and disti-
button Of this essential commodity.
1t does provide that it shall be the
| governments duty to study the ques-
| ton and advise Congress and the pub
lie of all the essential details that
| make up the price of coal.
THE first bill provides that the In
| terState Commerce Commission can
make seasonal reductions to Stimu-
/ late the movement of coal If relief
is to be brought this legislation
| should be passed Immediately. Coal is
the most important freight item of the
| railroads. representing at least one
| third of the entire business. including.
! of course. anthracite. The industry
| represents an annual turnover of bill
| lions of dollars. Without sufficient
| supply, transportation is at. a stand
still and the people starve.
Il have no antagoniSm to the coal
operators. but 1 must frankly state
| that believe great many coal pro-
ducers today are committed to the
! theory that the coal industry can be
best exploited by maintaining the
same seasonal speculative atmos-
phere, many of the producers resting
complacently under the present de-
pressed business situation in the be-
lief that when the demand for fuel
appears they will be able to employ
the opportunity to recover the losses
now being sustained, with compound
interest"