The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-09-27
COAL FOR NEW YORK
HELD UP IN TRANSIT
Woodin Confronted With More
Serious Problem and May
Resort to Embargo.
AFTER BERWIND-WHITE
Miners Ask Estimate Board to
Force Firm to Sign 'Cleye-
land Agreement

Change for the worse In the rail- situa-
ton regarding transportation or coal
into New York State and a sudden call
to act as mediator between the Berwind-
White coal interests and their stiil Idle
Pennsylvania miners were two burdens
which descended yesterday on the state
Fuel Administrator, William II. Woodin.
Rail facilities already abnormally
taxed by the coal output have been
strained further by car ana engine
shortages and by delays In unloading
by consignees, according 10 Mr.. Wood
ms staff To curb the latter the Inter-
state Commerce Commission is placing a
punitive embargo against any shipper
IL he does not employ cars within
twenty-rour hours. He can get no more
coal till hts track Is clear.
Union crushing" and refusal to ne
gotiate peace was charged against the
Berwind-White group. as purveyors to
the New York subways. by spokesman
for the miners at public hearing be-
fore the Board OF Estimate. After an
expression or sympathy, Mayor Hylan
prevailed on Mr.. Woodin to intercede
with the employers. The latter later
announced that he expected TO hear
from Z. J. Berwind this morning
whether the latter will meet the miners
to discuss settlement on the basis or
the Cleveland agreement"
Car shortages originating In the b.
luminous fields are extending to the
hard coal district. The coming week
ought to tell. it was said. whether the
carriers will be able TO meet cold
weather peaks.
A case was cited where eight cars OF
soft coal Bound for a Port Jervis pub
lie utility had been tied up in the Erie
Railroad yards at Hornell, y. Y. since
September 4, presumably because OF
lack OF motive power.
Erie officials here promised an inves-
tigation, but denied. If the report was
substantiated, that the case was typical.
| The Erie moved 500 cars of coal on
Monday and had 1900 fewer cars In its
yards than on Saturday. This was cited
to prove that the coal was being moved
faster than received. Car movements
on the system for the first three weeks
In September were 271,616, as against
25S.63S In the corresponding period OF
August.
James Mark. vice-president OF District
No. 2. United Mine Workers. In behalf
OF Somerset, Westmoreland. Cambria
and Fayette county miners varIously es-
timated at from $4,000 to $4,000. told
the Board of Estimate that the men
sought the same agreement that four
fifths of the national coal operators
had signed month ago.
Mark grouped the Berwind-Whlte col
lieries with the United States steel and
Rockefeller interests as bent on exter-
minating the unions in the area. After
summary of abuses the men had over
come through organization. Mr.. Mark
shetched picture OF evicted families
weatherbitten tent colonies and hunger.
ing women and children which, he said
was the cost being paid for tie fight for
principle. lie asked the city to help
force the Berwind-White companies to
settle and to send committee OF IN
vestigation.
Berwind-White officials at Windber,
Pa. declined to comment on the charges
of cruelty, but indicated that a formal
statement might be made later. Tent
colonies exist in this region, II was
found. but there had been partial ex-
odus TO other districts where the Cleve-
land agreement had been signed.