Evening star., 1943-08-05
Coal I-Heated Homes
Will Be Warm This
Winter, Officials Say

Homes with coal furnaces will be
comfortable during the coming win
ter If mining continues at the pres
ent rate and If the weather is no
more severe than last year, Official
sources here predicted today.
IF the weather of the 1884 heat
ing season Is no colder for no longer
a period than the abnormally severe
and protracted 1923 winter, home
heating coal supplies will be at least
80 per cent of 1923 consumption, p"
one official estimated.
Coupled with that if however,
is the equally important condition
that production be maintained at
least at present levels.
Ickes Warns Mine Owners.
Another development in the fuel
situation today was warning
sounded by Secretary of Interior
Ickes that the Government might
charge the operators for running
the mines if Uncle Sam encounters
any damage suits for having seized
the mines to end the recent strikes.
The coal industry has demanded
return OF the properties which the
Government has held for more than
three months. Mr.. Ickes is awaiting
an opinion from the Attorney Cen
eral as to when he must return the
properties under the new antistrike
law.
Meanwhile there has been an un-
dercurrent of talk of possible dam
age suits growing out of the seizure.
In laying down terms for return of
the mines on an 'if and when basis"
Mr.. Ickes made it clear that in anv
case where the Government is SUBJ
Ject to damage claim 1T expressly
reserves the right to assert by way
OF offset to any such claimed liza
bllity benefits resulting to the
mining company from Government
possession and control. ="
Sees Control as Beneficial
Mr.. Ickes believes the owners
regard Government control
as a benefit. He contended Govern
ment seizure kept the mines going
and making money at a time when
they would have been idle.
r. l.. Ireland, jr., and Edward r.
Burke, representing owners in the
Appalachian Operators Association.
telegraphed Mr.. Ickes last Saturday
that 1t was his duty" under the
Antistrike Act, to return the mines
Immediately. since, they said, sub
stantially' full production had been
restored.
Expectation has been voiced in
operator, union and Government
circles that the Governments con-
tinued exercise of control over the
mines would result in time In a
mass of law suits.
The high degree of legal tight
rope walking involved in Govern
ment operations was reported as
one reason that Influenced Mr.. Ickes
in choosing as his deputy mine op-
erations chief Carl E. Newton,
lawyer who was made president Of
the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad
last year.
New Distribution Plan Due.
Worried householders in some areas
are complaining that the tempo
rary coal distribution program insti-
tuted in June by the Solid Fuels
Once has delayed early purchase of
winter coal.
There has been difiiculty in rout-
ing adequate summer supplies to the
sectors where heavy population gains
have occurred since last year. The
temporary distribution plan is pro
rata apportionate Of available sup
plies to wholesalers on the basis of
their needs in the summer Of 1912,
which temporarily cuts the per cap
ita supply in areas of increased pop
ulation.
The permanent distribution plan
due to start September l will adjust
on the basis of population
shifts, but thus far the plan does not
call for coupon rationing. The sup
plies will be adjusted through the
producer and wholesaler.