New-York tribune., 1922-07-30
Emergency ! ,rd's Plan
Gives Cove ors Power
Over Distril don; u. S.
to Keep Roa ; Supplied
Foreign Shipping
To Bunke~ Abroad
Localities Without Fuel
Will Be Supplied I'm.
der ALLEGATION System


WASHINGTON, July 29.-In the
Administration coal rationing pro-
gram outlined to-day by Secretary
Hoover, chairman of the Presidents
emergency fuel committee, governors
of states are called upon to exercise
complete authority over production
and distribution within their states,
and are directed to draft rules and
| regulations to control prices.
The Federal government, Mr.. Hoover
says in his message to the governors,
will limit its activities to coal dis
tribution entirely to interstate qucs-
tions, except for railway coal, which
will be handled directly from Washing
ton. The producing coal mines of the
country will be given first call on coal
cars under the priority orders issued
by the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion.
Spencer In Full Charge
| Henry B. Spencer, national fuel con-
troller, will have complete charge of
the emergency coal distribution. and
, will endeavor in cooperation with the
states to see that an equitable division
of the nations supply results.
The governments proposal con-
templates seeing that the coal produc-
ing states shall supply on-producing
states with portion of their yield.
Additional railway facilities will be
/ placed at the disposal of these mines
to move their products.
Secretary Hoover announced that he
had requested eleven bunkering COM
panies along the Atlantic Coast to
bunker ships only to the next port, and
after August 1 to require all foreign
ships to bunker abroad for the round
| trip.
The emergency committee has also
suggested to Canadian consumers to
import their supply "for their own
safety" as the estimated coal yield of
American mines, will supply only do
mestic needs and those of Cuba.
Precaution Against Famine
Under the governments priority sys-
tenn, states far from coal producing
fields will be taken care of first. States
having surplus over their own needs
will be expected to apportion some of
their supply to non-producing states in
order that necessary industries may be
kept in operation and individual users
may be partially supplied.
The Administrations plan for coal
distribution was disclosed in the fol-
lowing announcement by Secretary
Hoover:
"The Federal government will limit
its activities in coal distribution en-
tirely to interstate questions. Mr.
Spencer has been appointed fuel dis
trlbutor, not fuel administrator, be-
cause the Federal distribution is con-
cerned with coal distribution between
the different stats, not with coal ad-
ministration in the sense of the wa,
organization.
"The control of coal distribution tc
Individual consumers within the state
boundaries is entirely in the hands OF
state authorities, except for railway
coal.
"The methods of handling coal fol
railways responsible to the Interstate
Commerce Commission will be deter.
mined directly from Washington in
maintaining interstate commerce.
Each state outside the latter groups
has been requested to canvass its sit.
uatlon as to stocks and requirements
in order of the priority in different
classes-public utilities, public insti-
tutions, households and industrial coal
each state has been asked to make
such rules and regulations as it may
see fit to control speculation and dis.
tribution within the boundaries of the
state. 1t has been suggested that the
cooperation of their state wholesale
and retail coal dealers associations
should be secured. The Federal gov.
ernment has no authority and can ex.
ert none in this matter beyond moral
| pressure.
Each state that must import coal
from other states has been asked to
create a central state agency or com
mittee for the purchase or guaranty Of
purchases of coal that may be import.
ed into the state from other states OF
from abroad, all coal to be consigned
to an agency designated by the state,