The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1917-08-21
COAL PRICES COME
UNDER AXE NEXT
PRESIDENT TAKES UP THE
MATTER.
Plead That No Move Be Taken
to Enforce Drastic Meas
ures of Provision.

nus
ment control of the coal industry ap-
peared imminent today when Presi-
dent Wilson turned his personal at
tention to the subject and heard the
mine operators and miners pre-
sentation of the situation. The in
terests Of the public now will be
presented by the Federal Trade
Commission, which has just COM
pleted it's investigation Of coal pro-
duction costs.
The trade commissions report, it
was learned tonight, will say that at
present prices coal operators, job
bers and retailers aer reaping ex-
horbitant profits. and that unfair dis
tribution is adding to the costs in
many parts Of the country.
Fear Food Bill.
Operators and miners who oppose
government price-fxing in the fear
that prices will be pushed down to
too low a level put their case before
the President today through Francis
C. Peabody, chairman of the coal
production committee of the Council
OF National Defense, and John P.
White, president OF the United Mine
Workers of America; their idea of a
solution of the situation as express
ed to the President, is that volun-
tary arrangement be made between
operators, miners and the govern
ward enforcement of the drastic pro-
visions OF the food bill.
In Chaotic State.
The coal situation, according to
officials who have studied the subject
is in a more chaotic state now than
it has been at any time. Miners
throughout the country are threaten
ing to strike unless their wages are
raised.
Prices are soaring despite the
agreement made recently between
government heads and the opera
tors and many sections of the coun-
try face a winter with scanty sup
plies of fuel.
Most Likely Program.
The program many officials believe
President Wilson is most likely to
adopt under the power to control the
industry would provide that the gov
ernment commander all coal pro-
duced, dividing the country into dis
tricts and fixing a maximum price
for each district. Under this plan
there would be from seven to twelve
districts and in each district a price
would be set based on an average
cost of production, plus a definite
percentage of profits. The districts s
output would be pooled, and in this
way every operator would get the
same percentage OF profit whatever
might be the cost of production.
Size OF Districts.
Six States produced about 85 per
cert of the country's total bitumin-
Gus output. Since there are alto
gether twenty-six coal producing
States. some districts would include
several States. The aim would be to
form the districts so production
costs in each would vary but little.
Evidences that the country is
growing restless under continued
high prices were seen by officials to-
day in the demand by representa-
tives of thirteen State councils OF
defense meeting in Chicago that the
government take immediate action
One element that is giving officials
most concern is the evident inten-
tions of labor to force immediate
wage increases.
Operators blame the unequal dis
tribution Of coal on the railroads,
which. they say. are not distributing
cars promptly.