New-York tribune., 1922-08-28
Administrator With War.
Time Power and Fund
of $40, 900, 900 to Buy
Coal in Crisis Forecast
Broadway Lights
Likely To Be Dim
Democrats to OpposeP Pro-
gram, Fayoring Leav-
ing Problem TO Cities
BY Denis Tilden Lynch

ny DenlS lllden Lynch
ALBANY, Aug. 27.-The extraordi-
nary, session of the Legislature, called
by Governor Miller, will meet here to-
morrow to create fuel administrator
with wartime powers and establish a
$l0,00o,0o0 fund for the purchase Of
coal by the state.
The Governors program, which aims
at a control Of the use, distribution and
price of coal, probably will be fought
by the Democrats with a partisan pro-
gram which would give the cities the
powers which the Governor believes
should be confined strictly to the state
authorities
The Governor and his advisors be-
lieve that the crisis created by the coal
strike is such that single authority,
clothed with all the powers that the
state can confer, alone will be capable
Of dealing with the situation. 1t is the
Governors intention that the smallest
user of coal as we'll as thetlargest in
dustrial concerns shall be equally pro-
tected, not only in price, but In the
distribution of coal.
Broadway Lights May Be Dim
Unless the miraculous happens the
glaring electric lights of Broadway
will be darkened by the fuel admins
traitor, as 1T is the intention OF the
Governor that householders and es-
sential industries shall have first call
upon the states allotment of fuel.
It has been hinted to the Governor
that it would be better for his politi-
cal future if he permitted the theaters
and moving picture houses all The
electric energy they required rather
than to curtaiI their supply. The Gov-
ernor's answer has been that no poiiti-
cal consequences will be considered by
him or his fuel administrator, and that
only the welfare of the entire state
will be considered in the use and dis
tribution Of coal. s: iss
In norder that tho pooryof hecitias shall
have their coal supply at the lowest
prices, the Governor will ask the Leg
islature to appropriate SIG, ,000, ,090
revolving fund. This will enable the
state fuel administrator to purchase
coal and to allot it to dealers, who
shall sell it on behalf of the state, and
any profits accruing shall go to the
OI lIlc IuSl duIHtIlio
Power Granted as Deterrent
The Governors program, it is under
stood, provides for the distribution Of
coal through existing agencies undar
rigid state supervision which will not
only prevent profiteering but unfair
distribution 1t is understood that the
power Of distribution will be granted
to the fuel administrators as deter
Ia.c
enjoyed by the coal dealers and to he
exercised by the state only In the event
| that privilege is. abused,
The fuel administrator will be en-
powered not only to close down non
essential industries, but all schools
and other public institutions that he
| may deem necessary. He also will be
empowered to encourage the use oi
| substitutes for anthracite coal, such as
! wood and softNcoal and in this regard
1t will be.4recommended that the cities
suspend their ordinances against the
| use Of soft coal pending the emergency
1t was recalled here tonight that
for more than five months the Zanthra.
ite mines have been closed down and
that If they resumed operations to-
morrow the state would still be faced
with fuel famine. The state annually
but to date it has received bat s ,o0o, ,0OC
tons.
Hylan Plan Not Economical
This is the sact which has actuafed
the Governor and his advisers in agree.
| ing that, the only solution lis in a. cen.
tralized state agency, and not in a di-
versified control such as has been
proposed BY Mayor Hylan and others
The latter plan, if adopted, would give
| to the fifty-nine cities of the state
power to buy their own coal supplies
| in the open market. The increase In
| prices from such competitive bidding
apart from other considerations which
condemn such a plan from an economic
standpoint, has determined Governor
Miller and the state Legislative lead,
ers that ali legislation aiming at these
| ends shalt be strangled in committee.
| While the generals belief is that ths
extraordinary session will end either
Tuesday night or Wednesday morning
theye is possibility that the partisan
( fight which the Democrats are planning
to make may prolong the session into
/ late in the week.