Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1922-09-01
CHARGES AGAINST
j. s. COAL BOARD
Accused of Favoritism by the
Michigan Fuel Agent.
GOVERNOR ALSO TAKES RAP
Washington Officials Declare MICHIGAN
Has Been Given Twice as Much
Coal as Other States-Break
Is Threatened.

Lansing, Mich, Aug. 25.-Coal con-
Germs close to the federal fuel admin
lstratlon are getting theirs, and get
ting it first" William w. Potter, state
fuel administrator, charged in state
ment, following his return from Wash
Ington, where he endeavore9 to obtain
a greater allowance of priority coal
for Michigan.
Mr.. Potter declared the public is not
in control of the distribution of coal,
and that coal is being daily offered at
exOrbitant prices. He asserted further
that inability or Discrimination of the
federal fuel administration to furnish
Michigan sufficient coal for it's neceS-
sary needs makes it evident enough
coal cannot be gotten into the state in
time to prevent serious discomfort and
possible loss of life.
Potter's Accusation.
Declaring that coal operators COM
prise the advisory board of the federal
fuel administration, Mr.. Potter as
serted:
when handful of men may throt-
tie the American public and demand
double a fair price for coal, it is time
this American public was taking some
action to change the personnel or the
activities, Of the federal government"
The state fuel administrator de-
clared that not pound of coal has
come into Michigan on priority order
at the contract price.
Applications" he stated, ego to the
advisory committee of coal operators.
1t the priority order should, perchance,
be handed to the coal operator having
the contract, he would refuse to fill it
and pass it along to some one else hav-
ing no contract relations, and thereby
get the Hoover fair price, instead Of
complying with his contract"
Indications of a break between the
state and federal administrations, I'M
less prompt steps are taken to relieve
the acute coal shortage in Michigan,
are apparent.
Governor Groesbeck already has
fired the opening gun of the contro-
verSy. Following the return of Mr..
Potter from Washington, the governor
made a statement sharply criticizing
the federal fuel administration. When
he was informed by Mr.. Potter that
the advisory board of the federal adj
ministration is composed of coal OPP
orators, the governor declared:
sit is travesty on justice that a
bunch of money grabbing coal opera
tors can sit in Washington and tell
the state of Michigan that it's guaran-
tee of $1,OOO,O0O for payment for coal
cannot be accepted because, in the
event of failure of payment, the state
could not be sued," he said.
Distribution Committee Replies.
Washington, Aug. 25.-Officials of
the federal coal distribution commit
tee, replying to criticism by Michigan
state officials, said that more than
twice as much coal had been author
lied for shipment 70 Michigan as to
any other state.
Committee officials declared that
107,320 tons of coal had been author
lied for movement to Michigan; 7OO,-
600 tons had been authorized for Great
Lakes shipment and Michigan would
get some of this coal, and that more
than 100000 tons had been author
lied for use of railroads, and Michi-
gan would share in this. The total
amount of coal allotted by the commit
tee, it was said, totals only somewhat
more than 100000 tons.
Taking up criticism directed at the
committee because of rejection of
Michigan's guarantee of $1000,0O0 for
priority of coal and of insistence upon
cash deposits in the banks, officials
explained that Comptroller of Currency
Crissinger had ruled that the purchase
price of coal obtained through the fed
eral agency must be deposited in banks
before national banks could handle the
paper.