New-York tribune., 1922-08-29
Governor Sharply Re-
Dukes Profiteers i'm Mes
sage and Warns Situation
Carries Grave Menace
$4,000, 600 Fund
Also Provided For
Law Makes It's Violation
a Misdemeanor and Sec
ond Offense a Felony
By Denis Tilden Lynch

ALBANY, Aug. 28.--Giovernor
Miller tonight called upon the Leg
islature to create state fuel ad-
ministrator with adequate power 10
supervise, regulate and control the
distribution, use, sale and price of
all fuel, and to authorize revolv-
ing fund of $4,000, 600 to carry out
any plan the fuel administrator may
deem necessary in the interest Of the
public welfare.
Immediately after the reading Of
the message a bill drafted by the
Governor was introduced in both
branches of the Legislature. 1t is
expected that the measure will be-
come law either tomorrow or
Wednesday.
The bill was introduced in the
Senate by Senator Charles j.
Hewitt, chairman Of the Senate
Finance Committee, and in the lower
house by AssemnIyman George N.
Jesse, Of Manhattan.
Calls Situation Grave
In his message the Governor de-
clared that the condition which the
state and nation faced verged upon
revolution as result of the coal
dispute. The Governor condemned
the few who have set their wills
against the public wilI and ts,eir sell
fish purposes above the interest
of all.
sThe disputants,' said the Cover
nor, "are too intent on carrying taeir
point to consider the public well
fare, which it is the high function
of government to promote. Winter
approaches, coal famine stares
the people in the face, threatening
acute distress among those least able
to provide for themselves, but the
dispute goes on
The proposed fuel administrator
| will have czar-like powers to protee4
the public, especi&liy the poor, from
prohteering coal dealers.
Fine ard imprisonment
First violations of any rule pronus-
gated by the fuel adm inistrator, which
will have the effect and force Of law.
is made misdemeanor. punishable by
not less than 500 and aet more ehsa
$1,000 fine. and by imprisonment Of
not more than one year, or both.
Where a violator is convicted a sec.
ond time the punishment will be hE for
felony. which carries with il the less
| of all civil rights.
| Under the provisions Of the rronossd
law fuel is defiAed as coal, coke. char
coal, irewood. fuel oil and manufKe4
| tured fuel products. Gas and eler-
| tricity. however, are excluded from the
/ provisions Of the term "fuel," but
these also are subject TO the restrie.
tions Of the fuel administrator.
| The bill carrying out the Goveryers
recommendations begins by setting
| forth the existence OF an emergency
directly affecting the public kNaith
and welfare
The second section ag ire act IRE.
/ sides that the state fuel administrator
shall hold Office during tha pleasure
| Of the Governor and shRil continue
utssa sAe 1os eIhuf pt@st@tHsa fnat fae
emergency 80 logger exists The fpvi
admlnistrator, whose salary is ssI be
/ fixed By the Gese7nsr. Ii ssnpowssea
To appoinE and feasnvp et Will sl,
| Deputies and empi1yeess prescribe ihs1r
powers and duties and fix thar sisiar-
ies. He is empowered also 20 aanstis
tute advisory bharas wherever ks fnAs
deem them advisable and 10 esteiiish
Offices wherever he may see 90. The
members OF she advisory boards ars &c
serve without pay.
Broad Powers Conferred
| The fuel administrator il gsven
power to supervise, regulate and con-
troll the receipt. storage, purchase, sale.
use, distribution and delivery. of fuel
within the staae. BE NAV buy and
sell Suei sdr public or erivate son-
sunlptlor. provided the sspvesnsr GER.
titles that the emergency "A 90 neuts
that thsss drastic powers shall ha
exercised
IN Determining the price at which
fuel shall be soid. tha state fuel atis
ms3istrator II charged TO see TINT nalf
Ialr profit shall accrue TO the sskfer.
he iuei administrator ss tnarewervd
also tn compel sne sAse. 8EssrfheIsica
and sasioning ef fuai 10 feealsties sIsgl-
ess and consumers. Sc prevent waste al
iucs 'and tq isfass or rsgalasA. srossues
tsea, dlstriboslen and ufa og light hest
and pUwsF. however generated
The bill provides that the mers ,snssa
lnx 81 as order b* the fBe} hsaainls.
trstpr excepting. WHARF personal delsv.
ery n required bg sha act. shall hags
the Force Ra4 effect or law.
The fuel administrator IL psveri asl
the powers of q ecugs. He Ia asnltew@
cred ta make Investigation, sxei,asns
witnesses, take asfdn93sa. zesssfsAf sAe