The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-17
EAST PROMISED
BETTER COAL
SUPPLY
Relief Measures to Be Taken
at Once by Interstate Com
merce Commission.
By international News Service.

By International News Service.
Remedial measures to relieve tht
anthracite coal famine in the cities
of upper New York State and New
England will be taken within for
ty-eight hours, it was indicated al
the Interstate Commerce Commits.
sion today following series OF
conferences. which lasted clear into
last night.
Whether an embargo on anthra.
cite shipments to Canada will be
established by the Commission is
doubtful, however, according to
members of the Commission. The
embargo method of relief was said
to be neither practicable or poll
tic, and it was indicated that
what relief is forthcoming will be
in the way of railroad regulation
rather than stoppage of shipments
across the northern boundary.
GOethaIs Imperative.
F. r. Wadleigh, federal fuel dis.
tributor, today received from Gen,
Geo. w. Goethals. State fuel ad.
ministrator in New York, tele.
gram stating that what New York
and New England needed was coal
not conferences" between Wash
ington officials. Wadleigh said he
was powerless to give coal. and
turned the telegram over to the
Interstate Commerce Commission,
notifying Goethals to this effect.
Meanwhile increasing pressure
upon the Interstate Commerce
Commission to relieve the situation
in any way possible was being
brought to bear today. Congress
man John j. Rogers Of Massachu.
sets informed the Commission
American anthracite was being sold
in Canada in quantities, while
American cities are going without
and paying exorbitant prices for
the small supplies obtainable.
Scores Love Feasts."
Rogers characterized the hear
ings which the Interstate Com.
merce Commission has held to date
on the situation as love feasts''
between railroad representatives,
coal operators and Canadian fuel
officials.
Every one of these gentlemen"
said Rogers, wants to continue TO
treat Canada as the forty-ninth
State in the Union
An offer to supply New England
with all the bituminous coal 1t can
burn was telegraphed to Senator
Walsh Of Massachusetts today by
John H. Jones, president of the
Bertha Coal Company of Pitts
burgh. The price, Jones said,
would be from 1925 to 81 ton at
the mines.
loves 5aoIarn5 - 1o4+a~ "a
Walsh that accounts of coal short
age had been exaggerated He said
his agents at Lynn and at Taun-
ton, Mass, offered coal to, custo-
mers at So a ton delivered at their
plants in those cities, and were in
formed no shortage existed.
IF you will make an investiga-
tion," said Jones, you will find
there is enough coal loaded in
boats now lying in Boston harbor
to take care Of the requirements Of
that territory for some time to
come"
Officials Are Secretive.
N. w. Roberts, assistant Federal
fuel distributor, was dispatched to-
day to Saratoga, N. Y, to make a
general survey of the coal situation
in that territory.
Six upstate cities where the short
age was reported most acute have
been sent emergency shipments
within the last twenty-four hours, it
was asserted today by the Fuel Ad-
ninistration. What the towns were
officials refused to state.
Members of the Interstate Com
merce Commission refused point
plank to answer any questions about
what the commission is doing or not
doing to relieve the situation other
than to indicate generally plans were
afOOt for relief where it was shown
to be needed