Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 62, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 November 1919 — U. S. WILL SEIZE COAL IN TRANSIT TO RUN ROADS [ARTICLE]

U. S. WILL SEIZE COAL IN TRANSIT TO RUN ROADS

( • |L _ Regional Directors Ordered nt Confiscate Fuel to Meet Threatened Crisis. r INDUSTRIES FACE WAR BASIS Manufacturing Concerns May Have to Cut Production 50 Per Cent Because of Miners’ Strike. ' Washington. Oct. 81.—The order reestablishing the old maximum coal prices of the fuel administration was completed ut a conference of Dr. HA. Garfield and railroad administration officials. It was taken immediately to the White House for President Wilson’s signature. Dr. Grayson had given permission to put it befpra the prtsident without delay. Washington, Oct. 81. —Selsure of coal now in transit was authorised by, the railroad administration. • Director General Hines announced that he had ordered all regional directors of railroads to accumulate coal to meet the threatened crisis, purchasing the coal, if possible, but if necessary to hold coal now in transit. Production Has Boon Heavy. The statement issued by Director General Hines follows: “In order to Interfere ns little as possible with the normal course of coal traffic, the railroad administration up to the present time has permltetd coal to go to the designated consignees. Within the last two weeks, open top equipment has been diverted to coal 1 loading to the exclusion of all other classes of traffic, and the movement of such equipment has been expected so as to facilitate the maximum production of coal. “The result has been an exceptionally heavy coal production. * To Hold Coal in Transit "It having become necessary to ba prepared to Insure against any temporary contingencies that the transportation service be protected, regional directors have been Instructed to see that each railroad shall accumulate a necessary coal reserve where it is not already at hand, purchasing such coal if possible, and otherwise holding coal 1 in transit Order of Priority. “In holding such coal exemptions will be made as far as possible for coal destined to certain classes of consignees in the following order of priority which is the basis of priority adopted during the war by the fuel administration: “A —Steam railroads; inland and coastwise vessels. “B—Domestic, including hotels, hospitals and asylums. “0 —Navy and army. "I>—Public utilities, Including plants and such portions of plants as supply light, heat and water for public usa. “E— Producers and manufacturers of food, including refrigeration. “F—National, state, county and municipal government emergency requirements. “G —Bunkers and other marine emergency requirements not specified above. **H —Producers of news print papers and plants necessary to the printing and publication of daily newspapers. Coal to Be Held In Cars. “Coal held in transit is not to be unloaded in storage nor used until actually needed, so that If its use Is later found unnecessary, it can be forwarded whenever practicable. “Instructions issued provide that there will be as little disturbance as possible in the distribution of coal, but at the same time protecting the necessities of railroads which have a public duty to perform." Will Have to Cut Production. "Industries will probably have to reduce their production by 50 ner cent because of the coal strike,” according to Secretary or the Interior

Lane, who stated ne nad this Information from the bureau of mines. “There wIH be a sufficient production of coal for domestic purposes and for the railroads,” Secretary Lane said, “but we may have some difficulty in providing for the public utilities.” _ Palmer Sees President. Attorney General Palmer, In charge of the proceeding to be instituted against the unions, talked to the president for 20 minutes, being the first official other than Secretary Tumulty to be admitted to the White House sick room during Mr. Wilson’s illness. The president listened to Mr. Palmer’s report, approved what had been done by the cabinet to meet the crisis, and made several sugegstions of further action. Lewis Assails Wilson. Indianapolis, Ind., Oct. 31. —After a day of secret conference with members of the executive committee, President Lewis of the United Mine Workers of America announced that he had nothing to add or take away from bls message to Secretary of Labor Wilson, In which he described President Wilson and the members of his cabinet as the allies of sinister financial Interests.