The Washington herald., 1922-10-20


right to establish priorities and
embargoes against persons charging
profteering prices from the mines
in interstate coal and providing for
the temporary ONCE of Federal Fuel
Distributor. 1t was impossible con-
stitutionally to extend Federal con-
troll to the prosecution of profiteer-
ing or to control speculation on coal
produced and distributed within
State boundaries, or upon resales of
coal imported into a State. The re-
sponsibility for such action must
rest upon the State authorities.
IL. On September %. upon recon-
mendation of Secretary Hoover. Con-
rad L. Spens. vice president OF the
Chicago. Burlington and Quincy
Railway. was appointed Federal. Fuel
Distributor in pla& of Mr.. Spencer.
who could no longer continue as
executive ofiicer OF the Presidential
Fuel Committee.
is. On September 20 the Chamber
OF Commerce of the United States,
at the request of Secretary Hoover.
initiated a voluntary campaign to
restrain the accumulation of stocks
by manufacturers and commercial
houses, thus continuing the buying
strike. The State administrators
were appealed to for furthersnce Of
this campaign.
Committee Appointed.
ls. The Federal Fuel Distributor
took Office on September 90 as ex-
ecutive of the Presidential Fuel
Committee. He appointed Donald
Conn as assistant fuel distributor.
named committees in the anthracite
field for distribution and control Of
prices. put F. r. wadleigh as gen
eral assistant to Mr.. Spens. in
charge OF statistics. and appointed
Alexander Legge assistant in charge
OF voluntary campaiEns among con-
sumers. Two advisory committees
were set up. one representing the
consumers. under the chairmanship
of Samuel Vauclain OF the Baldwin
Locomotive Works.
The second committee was Of rafl-
way executives under the chair
manship of Daniel willard.
II was the purpose Of these ar
rangements on the one hand TO
secure that no more coal should be
purchased by industries than was
necessary for daily consumption,
and on the other hand to secure a
maximum effort of the railways for
rush transportation. II was felt
that by this type Of activity the
coal situation could be most readily
and effectively solved.
Problem In Transportation.
The needs OF the community for
current consumption OF bituminous
coal are apparently about $500. 600
to s.Soo.0oo tons per week. but in
view of the fact that pre-winter
stocks OF anthracite have not been
laid down. IL will be necessary to
provide an additional million tons
of bituminous per week in order
to substitute in part for anthracite
coal.
The maximum prcduction of an
thracite is from 1900. 900 TO 2.o0O.-
OOO tons per week. The productive
capacity OF the bituminous mines is
probably as high as $4,000. 900 tons
per week but limitations in railway
transportation indicate that for the
next few weeks s5O0. 900 to TO-
100000 tons will be the maximum
that can be transported. together
with 100000 tons OF anthracite.
This implies that. while sufficient
coal can be moved for current sup
ply, distribution would be greatly
disturbed IL attempts were made to
store coal beyond day-to-day re-
auirements until such time a. rail-
ways arc more free from the pres
sure OF agricultural produce and
until such time as movement across
the lakes has stopped due TO the
closing OF lake navigation from ice.
Therefore the first effort is to Sc
cure the maximum transportation.
and second to secure that the public
cooperate in not attempting To
stock up coal.