New-York tribune., 1922-07-26
Governmental Needs of
All Glasses Come Last:
I.C.C. Suspends Rules of
Carriers in Emergency
Boards Decision =
Already i'm Effect
Every Road East of the
Mississippi Is Involved,
Harding Presses Plans
By Carter Field

WASHINGTON, July 25.-Dras-
tic priority orders intended to place
every pound of coal which can be
produced, in spite Of the miners
strike, where it will do the most
good were issued to-day by the IN
terstate Commerce Commission. The
orders also provided for the move
ment Of coal over the shortest routes
to the points Of need, regardless of
the rail lines traversed or avoided
in the process,
This action, which has been fere-
cast by the Administration for moro
than a week, places the country,
both as to control Of roads and on
conservation of fuel, a long step
back in the direction of the control
made necessary by the war emer-
gency in the winter of 1917 and
1918.
The settlement of the strike Of
railroad shopmen which is a vital
factor in the distribution of neces-
saries of life is to be left in the
hands Of the Railroad Labor Board,
it was made clear at the White
House. Only through the board will
the government act in the rail strike
but at the same time it was said that
the full power of the Administration
would be put behind the board.
In listing priority needs for coal the
railroads are placed first, subject to any
special condition which may be from
time TO time be imposed. Along with
the railroads is bunker coal for ships.
Public utility plants come second. in
cluding ice and cold storage plants
which handle food, and hospitals Gov
ernments, national, state and local,
come next.
The priority orders, taking effect at
midnight tonight. were issued on the
ground that national emergency In
transportation exists. Besides estab-
fishing list of products which shall
have the right of way-food, livestock,
perishable products and all kinds of
to provide coal cars to the mines as
determined by the Interstate Commercs
Commission and to route traffic in such
way as to give quickest service TO
the country. Ordinary freight rate
divisions and traffic regulations are TO
be disregarded, the order declared, and
all measures taken to expedite the dis
tribution of the essentials named.
Not Enough for All
The startling fact in the list is les
extreme breVity. There is no catalogu-
ing of industries, such as was essential
during the war, for the reason that no
one in the Administrator believes there
will be any coal left over for any other
purpose than those mentioned.
The truth is that no one expects the
list named above to be supplied. Sec
retary Hoover to-day Jared two city
officials Of Cleveland who had waved
complacent when they saw the priority
list. Law Director Paul Lamb and
K. B. Roberts, director of public utiI!-
ties, saw Mr.. Hoover, who with consid-
cradle emphasis told them they would
probably get no coal for the Cleveland
municipal light plant and waterworks
unless the Governor of Ohio started
steam shovels working the strip mines
of Ohio.
This was in spite Of .heir protests
that the waterworks of Cleveland had
only ten days supply of coal and the
electric light plant only three days
supply.
State Must Supply Needs
Mr.. Hoover said it was up to the
State Of Ohio to get the coal for its
available, which, if worked by steam
shovels not requiring skilled miners,
could produce ample coal for all the
public utility needs of the state.
The coal operators to-day accepted
the Hoover plan as announced yester-
day, and President Harding will name
the Presidential commission which
will have charge of coal production and
distribution in the emergency to-
morrow.
The efforts of the distribution ccm-
mission will be directed, ii was said
at the White House, to meeting the
fuel shortage as fully as possible in
the face of a gradually diminishing
coal output. The Administration is
aware Of the fact that even with troop
protection in Pennsylvania and other
states there has been no squirt in pro-
duction. What steps the President
might take beyond those already an
nounced were not indicated, although
it is known that he has considered
calling another conference of miners
and operators in new attempt to gain
peace.
The. distribution agency which has
been built up under the direction of
Secretary Hoover is ready to function
within forty-eight hours, he announced.
and all is in readiness to begin the
routing of coal immediately, with the
support of the orders from the Inter-
state Commerce Commission
The distributing commission that the
President will namn will he haaSnI r.,