Evening star., 1950-01-12
Coal Supplies at 25-Yeor Low,
Producers Say in New Plea for
Truman Action Against Lewis
IS Days Stock Left;
President May Give
Hint of Plans Today
By james Y. Newton

SOuCnern coal producers SdlQ
today that the country's supply of
soft coal now is the smallest in
Is years and considerably under
the levels when President Truman
twice declared national emer-
gencies because of fuel shortages.
Joseph E. Moody. president of
the Southern Coal Producers AS
sociation, estimated that the total
above-ground stockpile of coal
now had dipped to about 23,oO0,-
600 tons. Another source esti-
mated that the Moody figure was
sufficient to last the country Is
days. But the source said that
most of the supply is in the hands
of steel companies and big utili-
ties, while some consumers have
only a one or two-day supply.
Mr.. Moody used the figures to
again urge President Truman to
use national emergency provisions
of the Taft-Hartley Act to restore
full production of coal. The mines
have been working a ee-day
week since December l when John
L. Lewis instructed his United
Mine Workers to adopt the short
work week in both the soft and
hard coal industries.
The President declared a ma
tional emergency in coal in late
March. 1913, using an 80-day
Taft Hartley Act injunction to
end a mine strike over pensions.
In November 1916. before passage
of the Taft-Hartley Act, Mr.. Tru-
man first used the Injunction
weapon to force the miners to end
a strike. On both of those occa-
sions, Mr.. Moody claimed, coal
supplies were larger than they
are now.
Truman Comment Expected.
There were indications that Mr..
Truman would have something to
say about the coal supply situation
at his news conference late today.
He has steadfastly maintained
that there was no emergency in
volved in the coal supply situa-
ton.
Mr.. Moody said coal supplies
now may be at an all-time low.
Figures are available only for the
last Is years. Only once before in
that time. he said, has the total
national supply of soft coal dipped
below the 0,000-ton mark.
That was in June, 1888, at the
bottom of the depression, MIR.
Moody said.
SO far this month, Mr.. Moody
added. coal has been consumed
twice as fast as it is produced.
Senators Cautious on Law.
Meanwhile, prospects appeared
slight for Senate Labor Committee
approval of a resolution urging
Mr.. Truman to invoke the Taft
Hartley Act in an effort to bring
about full coal production.
The reason: A majority OF the
members of the committee still
want the law repealed and they
say. although not for direct quota
ton, they dislike the idea of back
ing any move to use the measure.
The resolution was introduced
yesterday by eight Republican
Senators. Representative Church,
Republican, of Illinois announced
he would offer a similar bill in the
House today.
The resolution would advise Mr..
Truman that Congress feels he
ought to use the Taft Hartley ma
tional emergency provisions to end
the three-day work week.
Would Be Expression of Sentiment,
Adoption of the resolution would
not force the President to invoke
the law. It simply would express
the sentiment of Congress.
Mr.. Truman has said more than
once that he did not regard the
coal situation as a national emer-
gency. He has said, too, that he
would not hesitate to use the Taft
Hartley law if he found such ac-
tion was warranted.
Since expressing those views,
Mr.. Truman again has called on
Congress to repeal the law.
~ a.