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Show WAR CONTRACTS CANNOT BE FILLED WITHOUT COAL WASHINGTON, Dec. 29. James J. Storrow, fuel administrator for New England, En-gland, today told Secretary Baker that war contracts calling for hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of clothing1 and I war munitions could not be carried to I completion at the present rate of coal I supply. "Immediate, real, practical re- lief" was asked, and the New England , administrator left it to the government's executive officials to decide how the fuel could be supplied. Some factories working on war contracts con-tracts have fuel sufficient for only two weeks, Mr. Storrow said. Chairman Hurley of the shipping board also was called Into the conference between be-tween Secretary Baker and Mr. Storrow. Stor-row. Mr. Storrow later made this statement: state-ment: The railroad congestion, which now has reduced the car supply for commercial com-mercial coal at the Pennsylvania mines, is bringing us less than 20 per cent of our contract requirements and no coal whatever for the hundreds of New England plants which depend upon buying spot coal in the mar- The taking of our tugs and ships for government purposes also has greai.lv reduced the supply of coal moving by water from tile West Virginia, Vir-ginia, mines to Bo- ton. Providence, Portland and other New England coal distributing points. I'nless immediate and effective action ac-tion is taken by the government within with-in a few days to increase the movr-mnt movr-mnt of ron I to New England, t he tivnnfndons amount of w;ir equipment vhirb thn government, is expert ig the New England factories to ir-iu.o will not be produced. Many people do not realize that even though we are at war many million tons ot coal must be burned for purposes which come ahead even of rifles, cartridges and poison gas. In the first place, it takes over 13,000.000 tons of eoal a vear to keep the houses in New England En-gland warm and cook their daily food. It takes over 6.000,000 tons to keep the New England railroads running. run-ning. It requires many millions of tons for the trolley lines, without the operation of which people cannot get to the great Fore River shipbuilding ship-building plant and the rest of our industrial establishments. Also our gas and electric light plants, which burn millions of tons, must be kept going. Our hospitals, schools, office buildings and countless other establishments estab-lishments must be kept going. II was 30 degrees below zero in nortnern New England this morning. There Is one New England company alone which has undertaken to turn out 3.500,000 yards of shirting for our soldiers. S, 500,000 yards of khaki, 4,000,000 vards of cloth to nrnke overcoats over-coats and 3.500,000 yards of blankets. I cite this case merely for illustration. I cannot say that governmental action ac-tion may be taken. The New England concerns unquestionably will receive from Secretary Baker and also Dr. Garfield and Chairman Hurley very-careful very-careful consideration, with a view to finding a prompt and effective remedy. rem-edy. 1 have no doubt the situation will be taken up with Secretary Mc-Adoo Mc-Adoo and his advice and assistance sought. No Profit, Says Kaplan. NEW YORK, Dec. 29. Ira W. Kaplan, president of the Base Sorting Plant, Inc., declared in a statement issued tonight that the plant was organized with the object of conserving the wool required for United States soldiers' clothing. The contract with the government was amended before any discussion of it ever became public, said Mr. Kaplan, to the end that "not one cent of profit or remuneration re-muneration should accrue, either directly or indirectly, to any individual responsible respon-sible for the organization of the plant." "None of the individuals interested in the Base Sorting Plant." Mr. Kaplan asserted, as-serted, "have ever benefited to the extent ex-tent of one cent of profit in connection therewith." |