The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-07-29

ed an lnVlLaI10n TO operators tO
settle strike by joint conference.
Calling of a special session of
the Indiana legislature to repeal
the miners qualification laws and
to enact such other legislation as
necessary to meet the coal strike
situation was suggested to Govern
or McCray.
Kentucky troops are ordered out
following alleged threats against
non-union men at Fonda.
Washington. July 25 (By the As
sociated Press). - Modified to
meet the crisis of nationwide
fuel shortage, federal agencies. pro-
ducing operators and railroad traf-
fic experts awaited tonight the
word from President Harding to
set in motion the administration
machine for emergency coal con-
troll.
Ground work for the emergency
fuel rationing program was laid to-
day by the interstate commerce
commission, which declared an
emergency existed on the railroads
east of the Mississippi river. This
formal announcement of the car
rierS' inability to serve the public
in the transportation Of necessi-
ties opened the way for the dis
tribution of coal under the plan
unanimously adopted by repre-
sentatives4of the producing field in
conference with secretary Hoov-
er.<
The directing agency for the
emergencya presidential COM
nattee chosen from the interstate
commerce coInmissie II, the depart
nrents of justice, commerce and
interior with Secretary; Hoover as
chairman-will be named by Pres
ident Harding tomorrow, accord
ing.tto high administration officials.
This committee with the aid of an
administrative committee of oper-
ators, railroad traffic experts and
probably representatives Of public
utilities will direct the activities
of local committees of operators
In maintaining fair prices and dis
tributing fuel to the carriers and
other public utilities in the order
of preference established by the
interstate commerce commission
as best suited to serve the needs Of
the general public.
Two orders, both based on. its
declaration that emergency in
transportation existed, were issued
by the commission. The first di-
rected railroads all over the United
States to disregard usual or re-
quested routing of shipments in ia
vor of such routing as would eX-
pedite movement and avoid con-
sestion. while the second eStab-
lished a system Of preference and
priority in shipments over all rail-
roads east of the Mississippi
Though the preference system
sketched in the second mandate
said that priority should be Civ
en- in The movement OF food, live
stock, perishable products and coal
and other fuels. all of details were
devoted to facilitating the govern
ment plan for distributing coal.
Railroads were directed to sup
ply coal cars to mines for such
special purposes as may from time
to time be designated by the COM
mission or its agent the agent
mentioned being the presidential
committee which will direct coal
distribution. These special needs
having been cared for, carriers
were directed to use all equip
ment for transporting fuel. first.
to railroads and other common
carriers: second. to public utili-
ties. street railways, power. light,
gas, water and sewer works. ice
plants and hospitals; third to gov
ernmental. local, state and federal
bodies. and fourth-thiS applying
only to coal carriers reaching
Pennsylvania. Ohio, West Virgin
ia. Kentucky. Tennessee and Ala
bama-for shipments via Lake
Erie ports to Lake Superior ports.
Domestic fuel coal generally was
given the next place in the pref
erence list.
Railroads were forbidden to di-
vert or reconsign shipments. ex-
cept as they might be needed for
superior use under the order of
Classification set forth.
They were further required to
! discontinue use Of cars suitable
for coal shipment in any other
traffic. and railroads not serving
mines were required to begin daily
deliveries of suitable coal cars to
| coal carriers.
The order giving priority for
food and other shipments MAS
qualified by clause stating that
such preference should be shown
by carrier only to the extent
that it is currently to be unable Ia
promptly transport all the freight
! traffic ordered it for movemeet.S
In the routing orders applying AL
over the United States, the com
mission required the roads to dis
cont r3{tS and