Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-08-31
lifting the Ban

| r coal conditions throughout The coun-
try are approximately as bad us they
have been pictured by officials OF The gov
eminent; II there is unequal distribution
and Widespread proiitCering, and even Il
partial breakdown in railroad transporta-
ton. then II is mistake for the Federal
Iue! distribution committee 10 abandon FUR
Their efforts to deal with the problem
Fuel Distributor Spencer has given no
'icc that by the end of this week his field
distributing organization will have been dis
banded and The voluntary price agreements
entered into between the government and
the operators Will have expired. There will
be no control, actual or influential. by the
government over the distribution or price
OF coal. Only the individual State govern
ments will stand between the proftecr and
the consumer. il is announced.
This notice was given. il might be re
marked "! the same day and AZ almost
the same hour that Secretary Of Commerce
Herbert Hoover. chairman OF the ds,ribu-
ton committee. appeared before com
mtttee OF the House tn urge the immediate
passage of law which would empower the
Interstate Commerce Commission TO en-
barge in the matter of transportation every
Goa! producer who might fail or refuse TO
observe the fair prices fixed by the gov
eminent, also TO provide by means OF
the country's coal supply. Without some
priorites for the equitable distribution OF
such authority. Mr.. Hoover acclaimed. the
great consuming public would be at the
mercy OF the coal interests.
Either this statement on the part OF MIR
Hoover was merely Il bit OF interesting
rhetoriC--a SOLICITORS gesture else
the adminstra rton has laid itself wide open
TO The charge of glazing inconsistency
Either there is or there is not IA fuel emer-
gcnCy 10 br dealt with. Fuel Administrator
Spencer says the emergency has passed and
therefore he is Withdrawing his distribu-
ton committee from the field Secretary
Hoover says the emergency is still present
and the government should be fully armed
10 meet II
Perhaps, after all. the move OF the fuel
distributor is but a part of a clever piece
OF politics. In disbanding his organiza-
ton and i'll Withdrawing price control. such
rs II rs Mr.. Spencer may be attempting 10
force through Congress pending legislation
asked for by the administration He may
hgure that The alarm created by his an
nouncement Will heStir Congress to TACT
Tor tn" protection OF the public
II NAT be the program then il is TO he
condemned. The government, has no right
10 run the risks involved in lifting the ban
ii has placed upon III" coal producers in
order 10 induce a reluctant Congress TO
legis!ate upon more drastic lines Congress
should pass the Cummins -Wnslow embargo
Dill. as a simple matter OF public insur-
ance But the country should not be left
without any protecting influence at all. in
order 10 hurry action by the House and
Senate
Very little comfort is TO be derived from
the fact that the Governors Of the various
States are called upon To maintain fair
prices within their Jurisdictions. There
may be some measure of control over resale
prices by the states, but il mine prices 20
sHE"ard, the consumers Will he mulcted
JuSi the same. And only the government
Is IN position TO deal with the price of
Goa! mat moves in interstate commerce