The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-19
REQU|S|T|ON|NG OF PRODUCT AT MINES f'' PROBABLY
 l BE i'opTED his Unde4 d to Be Rec ss#eH on Made in Report on Cos. of
 ? oduction
PRICE REDUCTION AND BETTER DISTRIBUTION TO BE ACCOMPLISHED
Definite Action to Remedy Conditions Will Be Taken at Once,
 It Is Said
By the Associated Press

Washington, August 18.-In- dications that the government is preparing to take control of the coal industry strengthened today when President Wilson paidsa visit to the federal trade commission and went over with it's members estimates of coal production costs and recom- mendations for dealing with the situation completed by the commission last night after months of investigation.
 Definite action to reduce prices to the consumer and to bring about bet ter distribution, it was learned after the conference, will be taken early next week.
 CALLED ON HOOVER
 Before going to the trade commission the President called on Herbert Hoover named to administer the food act, in which are provisions for control of coal. and later he went to see Attorney Gen. eral Gregory He also called at the of fees of Judge Robert S Lovett of the war industries board, who it is under- stocd will be given powers vested in the executive in aIrecent law governing priority of railroad shipments.
 The trade commissions report was to have gone to the White House this aft ernoon but when the President learned ir had teen completed he suggested a conference. When he left the commis- sion's offices he carried the report with h1m, and will study it over Sunday.
 DEEPLY CONCERNED
 The President is deeply concerned over the coal situation. Even representatives of the operators admi. that parts of the country face a shortage this winter, and from the public complaints are pouring in that prices are out of all reason The fact that several governors are threat
 
 states is prompting early federal action.
 THREE COURSES OPEN
 Three courses are open to the President. Under the food bill he may fix prices at the mines and to consumers. or ne may direct some government agency to requisi- tion the output of all mines, selling it to the public. The third course would contemplate voluntarily agreement by operators to sell at fair price, with the government directing distribution
 REQUISITIONING PLAN
 Officials who have followed the requisi- tioning of all coal mined. This, it is un- derstood, is the recommendation of the trade commission. The food bill pro- visions empower the President to direct any government agency to perform the task. Under the provision the government would control shipment. distribution and apportionment
 PLAN WORK ED OUT
 The trade commission. it is understood has worked out complete plan for price fixing in the event the President does not believe the situation requires com mandeering. This programme provides for government operation of mines re- fusing to sell their output at the prices fixed.
 For sometime the country's anthracite mines have been operating on a price system suggested by the trade commis- sion, but enforced by voluntary agree ment. The system. however, never has been extended to cover jobbing and re- tailing, and the commission has attempt ed to reach these trades through public ity.
 FORM DISTRICTS
 The requisting plans, if adopted, would call for division of the country into districts. Every operator would be paid for his product on bisis of cost of pro- auction plus definite percentage of prof it's All the coal in a district would be pooled and sold to the public at one price. although the prices fixed for diff ferent districts might vary considerably. Allowance would be given operators for quantity of production and efficiency of service.
 NO UNIFORM PRICE
 Officials of the trade commission say no scheme could be worked out. either under a requsitioning system or a straight price fixing plan. whereby it
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