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Show WAROEMAIFOf Bituminous Mines Unable to Meet Call for Coal Made by United States. GARFIELD QUESTIONED Big Profits Being Made and Large Dividends Declared by Operators. WASHINGTON, Dec. 26. Fuel Administrator Ad-ministrator Gnrfleld told the sonato Investigating In-vestigating committee today that if the war continued very long the government gov-ernment would be compelled to pool coal and sell It at reasonable prices- Some coal operators, ho said, were making the greatest profits in their history but ho considered high prices a stimulus to the great production the war demands. The fuel administrator said he saw little relief In prospect for the railroad situation except by centralization of control of them. WASHINGTON, Dec. 26. War demands de-mands for bituminous coal have been greater than the mines could meet although the increase of production this year has been normal, Fuol Administrator Ad-ministrator Garfield testified today at the senate coal investigation, in an effort to alleviate conditions, he said, the fuel administration was laying I emphasis on stimulating production rather than by regulating price. "When the operators complain that prices fixed by the president are too low, we are inclined to give them the benefit of tho doubt," Dr. Garfield said. Senator Konyon asked the fuel administrator ad-ministrator if he had information of dividends of some of the large operators oper-ators and he answered that he knew big profits were being made but believed be-lieved them nocessary to stimulate production. Private consumers have felt the shortage because the government has come first in its demands, but that rule has been changed in the last few days, Dr. Garfield said. "We are giving it to the people first now," he said. "With a discontented people we could not make much progress prog-ress in the war." Severe Cold Passed. Conditions are much better now that the severe cold wave, has passed and preparations are being made for tho future, he said. "I can guarantee that we have the situation well in hand," Dr. Garfield declared. Railroads Swamped With Work. Dr. Garfield said he did not want to place blame for lack of transportation on any one nor did he want to try to shift blame that might be attached to his administration. He added that it was impossible for the railroads to cope with the situation, situa-tion, "Coal is responsible for one-half the congested traffic and thousands are thousands are being backed up at bottle-neck points through which the railroads have endeavored to move large amounts," he said. "The only thing to do is Just what we have done ask Judge Lovett for a priority : order for coal and to annwi tn nnr. ators to shoot whatever coal they can to points where most needed. That has helped to some extent." Mines in eastern West Virginia are shipping west and those in the western part shipping east, causing congestion conges-tion at meeting points, he said. A change Involves great detail in changing chang-ing contracts which are not closed until next April. May Abrogate Contracts. "Unless conditions are improved I may abrogate these contracts and divert shipments to prevent congestion." conges-tion." said Dr. Garfield. "I think that a wise plan." remarked Senator Kenyon. Questioned by Senator Kenyon, Dr. Garfield said his organization is composed com-posed of about 200 persons, chief of whom are engineering experts, lawyers, law-yers, coal producers and John P. White, president of the United Mine Workers of America. He proceeded to give at length details of how complaints com-plaints against prices ' are handled. Forty such -complaints of operators have been investigated, he said, and each one had required services of engineers, en-gineers, expert accountants and lawyers. law-yers. Dr. Garfield said his advisers were volunteers and worked without salary or expense to the governmenL oo |