July 27, 1918





RECORD  AND  GUIDE





89





Government Moves To Insure Coal Supplies





Harbor Facilities Surveyed,  State Fuel Administrator Appointed
and Supervision of   Mines  Instituted





T





HREE acts of the Federal Government have paved
the way for the intelligent and, it is hoped, suc-
cessful handling of New.York's coal supply dur-
ing the coming winter.

The first of these is the survey of the dock and
terminal facilities of the port by the Federal Fuel Ad-
ministration, Dr. Harry A. Garfield, which was made
early in the week.

The second is the appointment of D. W. Cooke, Vice-
President of the Erie Railroad and chairman of the
Traffic Executives of the Allies, as State Fuel Admin-
istrator, to succeed A. FI. Wiggin, resigned, with
Charles E. Robertson and Reeves Schley, as assistants.

And the third move is the taking over of the super-
vision and control of labor conditions in the coal fields
as a war measure by Dr. Garfield on behalf of the
Federal Fuel Administration. His action followed an
agreement between himself and Secretary of Labor
Wilson.

The Bureau of Labor of the Fucl Administration was
created by Dr. Garfield immediately after the agree-
ment was entered into. Rembrandt Peale, a coal man
of New York City, and John P. White, former president
of the United Mine Workers of America, were chosen
as heads of the new bureau. The purpose of the ar-
rangement is to put an end to labor unrest and disturb-
ance in the coal fields and increase the output of the
mines to the highest possible point.

Conferences were held by Dr. Garfield with Frank J.
Hayes, president, and other officials of the United
Mine Workers of America before the agreement was
reached and a statement of priiiciples arranged.

The chief points in the agreement which will govern
work in the mines are:

That no strike shall take place pending the settle-
ment of any controversy until the dispute has been re-
viewed and decided by him and that recognition of the
unions shall not be exacted during the continuance of
the war except where now recognized by collective bar-
gaining.

That where, by joint contract between employer and
employed, machinery is provided for the settlement of
controversies the United States Fuel Administrator
shall not be required to intervene or to mediate until
such means have been invoked and the remedy ex-
hausted without reaching adjustment.

That the United States Fuel Administrator will con-
tinue to insist that any adjustment of the labor ques-
tions in the coal mining industry, whether by joint
agreement between operators and mine workers or by
agreements severally made with the United States Fuel
Administrator, shall embody wherever applicable the
principles laid down in the Maryland and Upper Poto-
mac settlement of May 6, 1918, and recognizes the
authority of the International Union of Mine Workers
in the organized ficlds and thcir jurisdiction over con-
troversies arising in said fields.

That employers will bc required to relinquish the
right to discharge employees because of affiliation with
labor unions.

That employers will be required to recognize the
right of their employees to organize by peaceful
methods that do not interrupt production.

That where the union shop now exists the same shall
continue and where union and non-union men work to-





gether the continuance of such conditions shall not be
deemed a grievance.

The priuciples set forth for recognition of basic
working days and the protection of union and non-
union miners are the same as were announced by Presi-.
dent Wilson in his labor proclamation of April 8 in
creating the War Labor Board.

The new bureau is an initial step toward granting
priority distribution of labor to coal mines under the
plan which will be in operation by the War Labor Ad-
ministration on August 1. Railroads, shipyards, muni-
tion plants and certain lines of agriculture are expected
to share with coal mines in the allotment of the com-
mon labor supply of the country.

The new bureau will have as one of its tasks prevent-
ing the spread of the epidemic of strikes to the coal
fields.

So that he might with an understanding of local
conditions formula-te plans for coal transportation and
storage which wiU prevent a repetition of last winter's
fuel shortage in the metropolis, Dr. Harry A. Garfield.
United States Fuel Administrator, made an inspection
of the harbor and its coal handling facilities,

Alfred H. Smith, Eastern Director of Railroads, took
personal charge of the party, which was made up of
over a score of the leading officials of both the Fuel
and Railroad administrations, including C. H. Markum,
Railway Director of the Allegheny region, with head-
quarters in  Philadelphia.

The party was taken in a tug to the big coal terminal
at Underclift'. Then it skirted the coal terminals along
the Jersey shore as far as Bayonne. The officials were
taken through the KiII von KuII and the Arthur KiIIs,
inspecting all the points where the coal roads make de-
liveries at tidewater, including Elizabeth, Perth Amboy
and South Amboy.

From the latter point the party passed through Rari-
tan Bay, circling Staten Island by the Narrows to St.
George, where are the Baltimore and Ohio coal ter-
minals. The tug then went up the East River and
landed its passengers.

Mr. Smith explained to Dr. Garfield the problems in
the handling of coal for bunkering large numbers of
ocean steamships and for supplying the needs of the
metropolis. Dr. Garfield went into the matter in great
detail and the discussion with the coal e.xperts in the
party was continuous and covered a wide range.

In addition to Dr. Garfield and Mr. Smith, the party
included: Remljrandt Peale, bituminous adviser; F. M.
Whitaker, manager of inland traffic; G. M. Snider,
transportation adviser; J. D. A. Morrow, general di-
rector of distribution ; S. L. Yerkes, assistant director
of distribution ; H. A. Cochran, manager of tidewater
distribution; A. S. Learoid, director of anthracite; J.
W. Searles, manager of the tidewater exchangc; An-
drew K. Morris, director of docks; J. E. Persons, man-
agers of steamship fuel for New York harbor; Joseph
B. Dickson, chairman of the anthracite committee of
Philadelphia; J; P. Cameron, fiscal representative of
Pennsylvania.

Others in the party vvere: C. H. Markum of Philadel-

phia;   D.   W.   Cooke,   vice-president,   Erie   Railroad;

George D. Coburn, chairman freight traffic committee;

North Atlantic ports ; Walter B. PoIIock, deputy rtiarine

{Continticd on page 91)