The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1922-08-03
HENRY SPENCER
is BOSS OF COAL
Named Federal Fuel AdminiStra-
tor by the President; Served
During War.
GOVERNMENT WILL CONTROL
Action Indicates That Return Of Miners
and Shopmen to Jobs viii Not
Remove Country's Acute
Fuel Crisis.

Washington, July 3l--Flenry spen'
Ger was appointed federal coal nd.
mnstralor by President Harding
This action plainly indicates that set.
/ Element OF either or both of the coal
ana rail strikes will not halt the gov.
eminent IN It's plan to control the dis.
1 tribution Of food and fuel.
/ Colonel Spencer was general pur
chasing agent for the railway admin
istraton during the war ana had
charge Of national coal distribution
after dissolution of the Garfield Coal
administration. He Is a former vice
president Of the Southern Railway
company
The return of miners to the mines
or shopmen 10 The shops will not re-
move the country's acute fuel crisis III
fits entirety. It can only relieve it, the
degree Of relief depending on how
soon either group Of strikers may re-
turn 10 work.
The necessity for government SUI
beyisiou over coal distribution and
price control will continue for many
weeks after the end Of the strikes, and
If the strikes are prolonged, may be
required throughout the coming win
ter.
Depletion Of reserve coal stocks with
the summer only hall gone already has
brought them down TO the danger
point, with consumption exceeding pro-
ductiou. Fuel conservation, therefore,
is necessary from this time on, If suf-
ferlng is to be prevented or minm2ed
next winter Secretary Hoover has
declared that If the miners we're to re-
turn to work at once it would not be
possible TO produce enough coal to
meet the normal winter demands of
the country.
Faced with this situation, the Presi-
dents coal committee has set about to
establish an organization prepared to
function for months TO come, The
committee has been I'm almost contin-
uOus session since its appointment by
the President Wednesday, whipping
this organization into shape and serur-
ing the cooperation of governors ana
public utilities commissions In the
states to set up local machinery to co.
operate with the government orguniza-
ton.
Secretary Hoover has received tele-
grams from several additional govern
ors pcdgiug their cooperation Com
missioner Aitchson Of the inter
state commerce commission also re
ceived messages from several addi-
tiona state and railroad and public
utilities commissions assuring their CO.
| operation in making the commissions
/ priority regulations for fuel and food
movements effective in their states.
Impetus was given to fuel and food
transportation when embargoes were
announced against all freight except
these necessities by four coal-carrying
railroads Of the Southeast
Chicago July 20.--Shortage Of coal,
due to the strike, Is seriously affect
ing the harvest Of crops, 1t was as
serted by officials Of the American
Farm Bureau federation, who predict
ed exhaustion of coal for farm pur,
poses within ten days.
"A week or ten days without relief
will create serious situation said a
formal statement by the federation oiIi-
cials.
m. .r..I.... ,l..,, ...I.... g..,,,l -,, ,r,v.