Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-07-31
FUEL PINCH LITTLE FELT
IN OLD DOMINION So FAR
Few Consumers Make Calls
for Help on the Ad-
mlnl>tratOr.
DELAYS nuu no RAN STRIKE
Distribution Within the states Is 10
lie Left In Hands of Administrator.
According Ia Announcement
From Washington.


Beyond calls FOR help from a few
consumers well up on the priority
list. there were few Developments In
the fuel situation in Virginia yes
;orday. One or two public utilities
and cold-StoraEc house conserving
food and needing coal for ice max
ing. complained that their coal sup
ply is not being delivered
No state authority. II is evident.
can control thu interstate movement
Of fuel and in each instance COM
ing TO light yesterday, the coal needed
is actuall! in West Virginia. Tn"
facts were placed before the central
authority ia Washington. Elmer
E"ncy relief was secured by State
Fuel Administrator Forward by
mediation. The pinch is but slight
ly felt in Virginia SO far, and de-
lays are due To shortage of motive
power because of the railroad strike.
Iii IJuuds of Administrator.
According 10 announcements from
WASHINGTON. distribution within the
states is to hc left in the hands of
the administrator for each state. Sec
rotary I!oover's committee IS TO look
after rcaouabl. prices NJ the mines
in producing States and. as long as
the rail strike lasts. will regulate
interstate transportation. Dtstribu-
tion between individual consumers is
Ia he worked out locally.
1t is not known how far existing
statutes Will permit diversion OF fuel
from ono consicnec To another Such
powers were broadly vested in the
president and his agents during the
war for the purpose of winning the
conflict In times of peace the adj
ministration may not be so simple.
y suggestion has come from Wash
inetun that voluntary regulations
shall be adopted by dealers under
the direction OF the State fuel ad-
mnistrator.
If this should fail or should no,
function property, II is said that
as las; resort the State admins
traitor might b." vested with extra
ordinary powers during the ciuer-
gcncy.
Mr.. Forward said yesterday he an.
tic!pated Il day or two Will ,lapsr
before administration & fully iuuc-
t!oning. and added thut so far as n,
Is concerned Interference with th,
normal flow O! business and with
contracts for fuel VIII be at tn.
minimum demanded by the situation
as II may develop.
Urge Conservation or stock
acute shortage so far as domestic
consumption Is concerned is as TO
weather. more than two months
nearer three months. away. Public
utilities have been urged to CON
serve their stocks, but the public
must he served.
An act passed by the General AS
semhly in 1920 permits tho State
Corporation Commission to regulate
the Priority with which a public u,il-
n.y. SUCH as an electric or gas or
wafer company. may serve it's Gus
toners. THIS does not involve the
supply Of coal but does provide tha,
the powers conferred therein may be
exercised II by reason of strikes
accidents. want OF coal or any Other
reason utility finds itself unable
TO supply all its patrons.
When such situation arises m.
corporation Commission may. upon
application Of any Interested ncrson
and after hearing, issue an order re-
curing q company, say one furnish
Ing electric lirht and power. to serv.
hrst ITS domestic consumers. nos
p!ia!s hotels. nsyiUHs. railway and
steamboat stations; uoNt. tho Arner,
can army and navy; next. public ser
vice corporations; next. producers
manufacturers ana storors Of food
products including coId-stororn
houses next national. state. CITY
ana county emergency Requirements
TINS would leave Factories. M mo
bottom Of tho list The law is taken
To mean that II the commission de-
clGes I" act IL has no choice 40 IN
the priority but must reQuIr. m.
order stated