New-York tribune., 1922-08-25
Walsh of Massachusetts,
Offers a Resolution Pro-
posing Drastic Action TO
Meet the Present Crisis
Calder Favors 49,
Hour UItimatuna
Hoover Says Corner Has
Been Turned and Situ-
alton Should Improve
By Carter Field

w WASHlNGlON, Aug. "a w fth
the Administration announcing
through Herbert Hoover that the
worst corner in the coal emergency
had been turned, with the prospect
that from now on there will be slow
but sure Improvement, Congress be-
came afflicted to-day with hysteria
of fear, insisting that drastic action
be taken Immediately.
Senator Walsh, of Massachusetts,
put in resolution providing for the
taking over of the coal mines by tho
government. Senator Calder, Of Nar
York, spoke at length in favor Of the
government giving the miners and
operators just forty-eight hours in
which to settle their controversy,
after which tipae, if they failed, the
government should take over and
operate the mines.
Senator Borah pointed out calmly,
just as Mr.. Hoover and the President
have been insisting, that the Federal
government will be pcwerless to mees
the situation adequately unless the
states act. Governors must call tia
legislatures together, Mr. I3ornh de-
clared, and pass the necessary legisia4
tien so that tie ststes can cooperate
with the Federal government.
Miiler's Example Praised
Governor Miller was held up by Sem
ator Borah 10 the bighest praise for
calling the New York Legislature in
special session. HIS example should
be followed ey oshar eoYs rnors, Borah
Chairmans Cunenins defended the
Presidents course II. g vigorous spsach
and called meeting Of the Iutcrststo
Commerce Committee, of which he is
chairman, for Saturday 70 consider the
Administration coal control bill, which
he introduced.
The neck Of the bottle, so far as the
supply of coal for this winter is con-
cerned, viii change within month
from production Mt the mines to the
railroads, according TO Secretary
Hoover, and from that tima--thc begin
ming of the heavy crop movsment-tre
amount Of coal which can be delivered
will be governed by the amount the
railroads can transport.
Within month the heavy crop move
ment, the Secretary pointed out, will
put further drain on the motive
power of the railroads. So far, how
eyer, there has been no consideration
of any curtailment in passenger train
schedules, even where trains Of rival
railroads duplicate service between
cities. Curtailment of this sort, it wss
pointed out in one quarter to-day, was
effective in saving coal ane equipment
during the war.
Hoover Rebukes Michigan Man
Mr.. Hoover administered sharp re-
buke to-day TO William w. Potter, fuel
administrator of Michigan, for Mr..
Potters reflections on Federal Fuel
Administrator Spencer. Mr.. Potter is-
sued statement in Lansing, Mich,
to-day in which he alleged that con-
Germs close to the Federal Fuel Admin.
istration were getting theirs and get
ting it FIRST" He asserted that not
pound of coal had come into Michigan
on a priority order at the contract
price and that applications were passed
along Go an advisory board, which, Mr..
Potter declared. w&F made up of coal
operators who maKonvered to get the
Hoover fair price, instead of complying
with contracts
MIR. Hoover pointed cut that the sur.
plus of coal for shipment outside tire
states IN which coal has been pza-
dsced during the strike was only about
100000 tons week, whereas the firse
priority list--railroads, public utisitiss
and ospitals--raquired normal een-
sumption of 100000 tons week.
Despite this, by the drastic enforcee
ment Of priority orders and by rigid
insistence thst reserve stocks should
be used up, 1t has been possible to pre-
vent any public utility from closing
down or any railroad suspending serv-
ice from lack of coal. ~
In the view of the Administration.
the worst day of the whole situation
was last Friday, sid from then on
there has been sharp improvement.
Seven more stateg are now producing
coal, and they ara producing at 8
rate which will permit the shipment TO
other states of 6,00o.00G tons week.
Next week this figure, IL is understood,
will be increased TO 100000 tons.
The telegram from Secretary Hoover
to Mr. Potter said In part:
If You are correctly reported sn Ia
press, IL appears to me that yeu &<e
grossly mssinformed as 10 fhs who1s
coal situation during the last months.
Over and above the deductions Of tie
coal producing states for their owA
NSSs AAiS It9Nkata 1e$tsfRASRs HAt t>S \
available for export from such stateg
less than /, ,o00, 900 tons per week. The
needs of the non-producing states for
railways, utilities. public institutions
and vital supplies alone have bcen
over 5000, 900 tons week
Yet, by incessant shifting Of sus4
plies through super -prioritses to meet
emergencies and insisting that thess
categoriss draw upon their stocks al
these services have been maintained
through the nation and there has not
been a single shutdown Of this class
Of consusners in your state or essc-
where.
Free from any coal opcrakeyss In
Auence, the whole surplus If coal from
producing states is andsr the priorltY
rules os the Interstate Commerce CONF
mission, Ia which yen HAYS partici-
pated, and the operators who have vol-
unfairly co-cperassa in distrihutivn