The New York herald., 1922-08-30

| Edison. Consolidated Gas, Interborough,
b. r. r., Public Service Corporation OF
New Jersey and similar interests are
listed on the soft coal side
a mere rule to break down any Of the
housing laws.
THE landlords" Mr.. Gothic said, "can
get all the protection they need In the
courts II they cannot set coal 70 carry
out the terms of their leases
Under this bill replied Senator
Lusk 'the Fuel Administrator can take
coal out Of the bins of private homes. he
can stop trolley lines from running and
he can do hundred other things, which
he ought not to do and will not do, but
he should have the power in case 1t Is
necessary to use 1t. II he abuses the
power given to him he can be removed
and there is no question that Gov.
Miller will remove any Fuel Admins
traitor who abuses his power. There are
in New York city many expensive apart
mentS, renting for $4,000 and $4,000
year, and I see no reason why the
Fuel Administrator should not have the
power to curtail the service given them
for the benefit Of people In less fortunate
circumstances
Senator Lockwood. chairman of the
Housing Committee, voted for the
Gothic amendment. saying he objected
to any possibility of breaking down the
housing laws The amendment was
beaten, q TO q.
Other amendments. beaten In the SEN
ate provided that no person connected
with the coal business could be ap-
pointed Fuel Administrator or a deputy
and required that the Fuel Administra-
tor should be citizen Of the State Of
New York.
When the final passage of the bill was
reached Senator Walker said the Demo-
Gratis would accept it, although object
ing to many of Its provisions.
1T is a sincere effort to bridge over
the coal crisis in New York State" Mr..
Walker said. but ] have deep regret that
the measure has omitted to give the
authorities in the localities some pow
ers under IT, A crisis is here. however,
and II is better to take half loaf
than none at all. The bill is anaemic.
II goes too far in some ways and not
far enough In others. IL Is with the
sincere hope that II will be sufficient
to meet the situation that we wish to
be recorded In favor OF it,
In the Assembly the first amendment
proposed by the Democrats was beaten
by vote OF 81 to 43, and Assemblyman
Donohue, the Minority Leader, accepted
same amendment as were offered In the
Senate. In pleading more power for
New York city Mr. Donohue said II
could not be expected that the Republi-
cans would give II, because they had
heard their masters voice.
Assemblyman Jesse, introducer OF the
Governors bill, retorted that the Repub-
Hcans were just as much In sympathy
with the people in New York as the
Democrats and just as apprehensive of
the hardships and suffering that the peo-
pie there will have to undergo In a
serious coal shortage. He added: But
we Republicans from New York believe
that this measure provides the best
means for bringing relief to the people
Of New York. To give the power sought
by the Democrats would bring New York
in competition with all the fifty-nine
cities Of the State in a wild scramble for
what little coal there Is on hand. am
not apprehensive that New York city
viii not get Its full share OF coal / ex-
pect TO be reelected to this Assembly
and want to say that II New York city
does not get n square deal 7 will be will
ing to vote at the regular session in
January for an amendment, giving New
York the power specified II the Fuel
| Commissioner does not deal justly with
the city"
Assemblyman Mckee CDem.) OF The
Bronx introduced an amendment bring
Ing fuel appliances under the control OF
the administrator as well ss fuel He
said that householders would have TO
buy oil stoves and appliances to their
! heating apparatus to equip them for
burning soft coal and wood and that
the manufacturers OF these appliances
should be brought under the control of
the Fuel Administrator.
Assemblyman Adler said that this
question had been considered by those
who drafted the Governors bill and that
II had been deemed lnadvisable to put
this and other burdens on the Fuel Ad-
ministrator that he could not bear,
City Transit situation.
Leroy 7. Hardness, one OF the Transit
| Commissioners and also n member of
the Coal Commission, said at Albany
to-day: There is no reason for con-
cern about the transit situation In New
York city on account OF coal shortage.
The transit lines all use soft coal We
are practically out OF the woods so far
as soft coal Is concerned. The strikes
have been settled and there Is excess
1 capacity In the mines that will permit
OF large surplus production.
The oriv interruption on service has
been occasioncd by the use Of some Eng
iish coal. This coal Is radically different
| from American coal and requires diff
ferent boiler practice. On account of
decreased steam production II was nee
essary temporarily to cut the rush hour
service on the Interborough lines 10 per
cent. With supplies of American Poca-
hontas coal coming In 1t is expected
that the suspension will be vacated
within few days and the fntcrborourh
ordered back 10 normal service. Out
side Of this one case. which is due to
the use OF English coal, there has been
absolutely no curtaiiment OF service on
the New York City transit lines"
When asked about recent accidents
on the rapid transit lines Mr.. Hardness
said There Is not the slightest con-
nection between thess accidents and the
coal shortage. The accidents were all
due to breaks In local mechanism, to
bursting water mains and matters OF
that sort. Moreover tho records show
that the number OF accidents Is substan-
TALLY the same as the average for the
last FIVE years