The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-06-28
COST At MINES
REDUCED FROMs1
TO $3.50 A TON
Hundreds Of Millions Of DOL
lars Saved TO People,
FIXED BY FEDERAL AGENTS
Still Further Price Declines
May Follow,

WASHINGTON, June 2S--An inn
mediate general reduction OF from 81
to 81 50 per ton OF coal at the mines
was agreed upon here today by rep
resentatives of the coal operators
Further Decline Expected.
This reduction is expected TO be fG-
lowed by still further decrease in price
after investigation into the costs Of
mining coal and it is probable that the
government will be given still lower
price than that to the gertsal public.
Hundreds OF millions OF dollars will be
saved to the American people through
this decision.
The operators adopted resolutions
authorizing their cimmitties TO give
assent to such maximum prices Tor coal
free on board" cars at mines in the
various districts as may be named by
the secretary OF the interior, federal
trade commission and the council OF
national coal production committee.
Responsibility on Government.
The resolution giving assent" TO fix.
ing OF maximum prices was reported
BY former Governor Fort. from spe-
cial committee. He said he believed the
resolution was entirely safe for the con-
ference to adopt and that any respons-
ibility as to the legality OF the fixing
of prices was put on the government
and not the operators under the terms
of the resolution The resolution points
out that great national emergency
now exists in the nations fuel supply
and that the coal operators and miners
desire TO closely cooperate with the
government
The resolution was unanimously
adopted II was revision OF former
resolution for fear that questions might
be raised as to the legality OF the opera
tors agreeing upon price, even though
at the instance OF the government, At
torney General Gregory having sent
word that K. Cotton Lewis, special as
sstant attorney general. who had been
conierring with the operators, had no
right or authority to outline what the
Governments policy might be under the
antitrust laws IN connection with price
fixing
Second Resolution Adopted.
As soon as this resolution was agreed
to, another one was presented under
which i, was proposed that the govern
men, authorize the government repre-
Senta,iyes named IN the resolution to
issue statement forthwith, fixing q
tentative price which in their Judgment
shall he fair and reasonable one for
the various district, and to be effective
from July until the committee shall
fix permanent price,
The second resolution directing the
conference committee to proceed inn
mediately to fix tentative price with
out waiting for aSeettaining OF cost,
was adopted practically unanimously
II authorized the secretary .oi the in
terror. the federal trade commission
and the defense council committee on
coal production 10 forthwith issue
statement fixing tentative maNiiuu
price. which, in their Judgment V tai'
and reasonable as applied to the ;ev.
.ral coal districts, a, which coal shall
he sold from and after the first day ol
luly and until the accurate costs have
been ascer,ained and fair and reason.
able price based thereon fixed by said
government agencies"