New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-01

mittee on coal production OF the Coun-
Gil Of National Defence, IN cooperation
with certain coal producers a.d repre-
sentatives of coal mining enterprises
with regard TO the price OF biuminous
and anthracite coal.
"The facts seems TO be that the coal
production committee invited 20 Wash
ington various coal operators and ar
ranged conferences between them,
members of the coal production com
mittee and members Of the Federal
Trade Commission, leading 10 the
adoption of resolutions in Favor OF an
early and accurate determination OF
the costs involved in the production Of
bituminous and anthracite coal as a
basis for some future action by some
Official agency of the government IN
fixing fair and just prices for these
products, should any such agency be
given power TO do so.
Pending such an ascertainment OF
costs, this meeting seems TO have adopt
ed a resolution whereby the operators
present agreed TO sell bituminous coal
at a price not higher than So a ton,
and that this obligation should remain
in force until some such action had
been taken by an authorized govern
mental agency.
May Mislead the Public
THE color which has been given 70
this meeting and this resolution IN the
newspapers may well mislead the pub
lie into believing that the Council Of
National Defence has either undertaken
itself TO fix the price of coal or 10
sanction its being fixed by the coal
production committee. or that commit
tee in conjunction with the coal oper-
ators.
al therefore, as president of the
Council Of National Defence. write this
10 say that the Council of National
Defence has no legal power and claims
no legal power either to fix the price
of coal or to fix maximum price Tor
coal or any other output. The coal
production committee is "A subordinate
committee of the Council OF National
Defence, purely advisory in its char
acter. formed for the purpose of ad-
vising the council as to steps when
might be recommended leading TO n
stimulation Of production and distri-
button Of coal. g.,
"No power has ever been attempted
TO he delegated TO il 10 consider or
deal with the question of price, ana
any action taken BIZ that committee, or
sanctioned by that committee. dealing
with price. either fixed or maximum,
for coal, is clearly beyond the legal
power Of the Coal Production Commit
tee and of the Council of National De-
fence. from which the committee de-
rives whatever authority it has.
Price Called Oppressive
CAS- YOU are aware, the Federal Trade
Commission has been directed by the
President to ascertain for his infor-
nation the costs involved in coal pro-
duction. ! am TO some extent familiar
with the progress made by the COM
mission. The information ! have from
that and other sources, think, JUST.
fed ME in believing that the price OF
SO suggested or agreed on as maxi
mum is an exorbitant, unjust and OPP
pressive price.
"The fact that these conferences
were attended by members OF the red
cral Trade Commission and by mem
bers Of the Council OF National De-
fence. of course adds nothing to their
legal powers, and | am sure that none
Of nv associates in the council VIII
dissent from the view have herein
EXPRESSED. both on the limitation OF
the mowers of the council and the Coal
Production Committee, and the erect
of the action alleged to have been
taken. Il
~ write this for the information OF
tho coal committee and for the guid-
snce Of all other subcommittee of the
council