Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-29
IL STATES GIVE WORD

New York, Aug. 2S.-(By y. P.)-
Eleven Atlantic seaboard states to-
day pledged themselves to do all
in their power to aid federal fuel
administrator Wadleigh and coal
carrying railroads to minimize the
suffering that might follow in the
wake OF protracted suspension of
anthracite mining after September J..
-Four governors and representatives
of seven other states voted, with
delegates from the District of Col
umbia, to cooperate in whatever
emergency measures Mr.. Wadleigh
might undertake. Parties to the
agreement included Representatives
of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, the American Railway AS
ISOLATION, the U. S. Bureau of Mines,
and the American Federation OF En-
gineering Societies.
After expressing explicit conf
dence in a plan outlined by the fed
eral administrator for coping with
any fuel crisis that might arise, the
conference adjourned sine die to
await the outcome of Governor Pin
chots conference at Harrisburg, Pa,
with union leaders and operators.
Mr.. Wadleigh's plan, as tactitly ap-
proved by the conferees. proposed the
establishment by each state of an
emergency fuel distributing organi-
cation. The government would
maintain a similar organization, with
staff men to work with the states
"in distributing fuel, in securing the
needed supplies from the producing
fields, in obtaining the cooperation
of railroads toward rapid and equable
transportation.55
The federal administrators orgni-
zation would act "as a point of CO.
ordination between the state au-
thorities, the bituminous authorities.
the selling agencies and the trans
portation interests"
From the states emergency COM
mittees would be chosen delegates
for "a permanent committee of the
whole to act as central clearing
house, in direct contact with the fed
eral government"-"a regular organi-
cation with an established head
quarters"
The American Railway Association
has promised, with individual roads
in upper Atlantic states, to see that
the coal is properly distributed. Mr..
Wadlcigh, his staff, and the official OBJ
servers from other departments of the
government left for Washington i'm
medately after the conference to APP
prise President Coolidge of the results
and to take steps towards perfecting
the federal organization Mr.. Wadleigh
proposed. The states representatives
also returned to their respective CAPT
tails to report and make ready for &C
ton If the threatened suspensions of
mines is ordered.
In approving the governments plan
the confereeS practically accepted the
plan submitted to the coal commission
in July by John c. Brydon. president
Of the National Coal Association, and
resubmitted at today's conference.
Speaking particularly as chairman of
the bituminous operators special COM
mittee. which he said represented so
per cent. of the nations union and nom
union commercial soft coal tonnage.
Mr.. Brydon offered to turn over to the
service of the government an emer-
gency organization which he previous
ly had asserted would flood New Eng
land with hituminous if the anthracite
miners strike" at prices to be fixed by
the government.
A long resolution was introduced by
w. D. B. Ainey, representing the gov
eminent of Pennsylvania, setting forth
the purposes of the conference. Del
egates from Maryland, New Jersey and
other states leaped to their feet with
objections that the resolution had no
teeth that it failed to provide for
protection of consumers from that
"gouger," that it was ''voluminous and
MISUNDERSTANDING
The states representatives then
withdrew to caucus and. at the sug-
gestion of Mr.. WGdlcigh, to draw up
a resolution that would be unanimous
" satisfactory. Governor Cox OF Mass
achusetts drew one that was adopted
forthwith and the conference ad-
journed.
Governor Cox's resolution was:
'It is the sentiment of the repre-
sentatiles of the anthracite consuming
states that their local organizations
will cooperate to the fullest extent IN
any plan approved by the federal fuel
stributor which will secure to con-
sumers a maximum of fuel"