New-York tribune., 1921-05-17
Bills to Aid Coal
Movement Backed
BY Frelinghuysenl
One Provides Cut i'm Freight
Rates i'm Summer TO Avert
Winter Shortage; Other
for Inquiry Into Problem
From, The Trsbnne's Washtnotom Bureau


WASHINGTON, May 16.-Senator
Frelinghuysen, of New Jersey, to-day
reported his two coal bills to the Sem
ate from the Interstate Commerce Com.
mittee, and in this connection gave
out statement explaining them. He
believes the purchase and distribu-
tion Of coal in the next several months
will be stimulated if the seasonable
coal rate bill IS enacted. He said:
The object of the first of these
two bills is to confer upon the Inter-
state Commerce Commission authority
to reduce the freight rates on coal,
thus encouraging the production and
Shipment Of the same during the sum-
mer months. when, ordinarily, the
mlhes and cars are idle, owing to the
low demand on the part Of consumers.
fhe purpose Of this proposed legisla-
tlon is. to lift the load from the fall
and winter months, when nearly all
consumers, including the railroads,
purchase their coal, thus causing a
shortage IN coal cars, congestion in
traffic and the diversion of equipment
from other uses.
ut is believed that an allowance Of
20 cents ton for the next three
months will greatly stimulate the pur-
chase and distribution of coal.
AT the present time the country is
snort Of coal and the public is not buy
ing We are only producing 5000, 900
TONS a week when we should be produc-
ing 100000 at least, and with onlv
140000,o00 tons produced nm to +bs
present time the situation Is grave. If
the country uses as much coal as it
did last year something must be done
to stimulate production and induce the
publlc to purchase, otherwise the rail
roads will be unable to TRANSPORT
the coal demanded the latter part of
the year and during the winter months
of next year.
THE bill has the approval Of the
interstate Commerce Commission, has
been recommended by the American
Mining and Metallurgy Engineers and
many operators and railroad men in
the country, and it is hoped that
Congress will realize that the situation
is critical, that an emergency EXISTS.
and that the bin should pass {nne.
diately.
THE second bill reported from the
Committee on Interstate Commerce
provides for the sterilization of the
coal industry. This bill is purely inves-
tIgatlonal in character and places in
the hands of the Secretary of Com
merce the authority to investigate the
production and distribution of coal and
the cost and profits of mining and SELL
ing 1t also gives the Secretary Of
commerce power to investigate wages
and labor conditions and the advisable
lVy OF having separate purchasing
agency for the purchase of coal used
by the government, as we'll as the
statutory zoning of coal.
Wants Expert TO Study Problem =
1T authorizes the Director of the
Bureau of Mines, under the direction
OF the Secretary of the Interior. to
make study of the advisability Of the
storage of surplus coal in order to
avoid hortage and prevent such
chaotic conditions as existed durjno
the coal strike Of 1919.
The lodgment Of these pogers IN
Che Department of Commerce carries
With it no regulatory authority. The
object Of the bill is to direct that de-
pa,rtment to make a careful study of
all conditions pertaining to the coal
industry in order that the problems
which now exist as to mining, labor
and the cost of production may,
through cooperative effort among ali
OF the groups and classes interested in
the industry, be stabilized. The OBJ
1ect is not to interfere in any wav
with the business of the coal industry,
but rather to help it through co0pera-
tive and advisory effort"