The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-30
PRICE REDUCTION
 AT COAL MINES ID BE STRICTLY ENFORCED

Washington, June 29.--Coal price reduc- tions agreed on yesterday by the coun- trys bituminous producers at confer ence with government officials will be strictly enforced.
 With the weight of the industry's ap- proval behind the agreement and certain Of the fact that the government will take control if it is not lived up to, the coal committee of the council of national defense will take quick measures to pre- vent any wavering. Today the commit tee warned operators at Decatur, H., who raised their prices beyond the limit set. that the industry would not stand for their action.
 DIVIDED INTO DISTRICTS
 The coal committee has given each of it's 26 members supervision of one coal production district and every man will De held responsible for prices in his ter- ritory. The federal trade commission will be called on for aid if difficulties arise The price of anthracite, arranged some- time ago at conferences between produce CTS and the trade commission, probably will be reduced to consumers, it was said today, through regulation of jobbers' and
 
 the trade commission and Secretary Lane expect to call anthracite dealers together soon to work out a plan for furnishing cheaper coal to the householder
 Under an agreement with the trade com mission anthracite is selling at the mines now only 30 cents higher than last year but the price to the consumer is far higher than it should be.
 Bituminous jobbers will not be allowed to raise coal prices beyond the mine price, with the addition of the freight and their pront of 20 cents a ton. If consumer has difficulty in getting coal and finds he can get it only by paying some jobber more than the 25 cents profit the coal committee can be appealed to and will see that he gets coal direct from the mine at the mine price.
 LIMITATIONS PLACED
 The new prices will not apply in export trade and will not disturb existing con- tracts. Export prices, it is believed how ever, may be affected if the America gov eminent and the allies get together on an agreement to stabilize prices between all the allied countries
 One method of equalizing bitumlnous prices to the consumer will be sought in encouragement of freight hauls. Some middle western operators are said to be selling now in theS east while eastern PeineoiS are ueliVerlng tnelr product in the middle west. The coal committee plans an entire encouragement of ship- ments to be worked out with the aid of the war railroad board
 The coal shortage, members of the coal committee insist is due entirely to made quate car service Bituminous mines produced last year 5O0,00O, 900 tons, working |A2co days during the year. With enough kKTs and working 300 days this year. it oc fiy,,a Al t1,ok 4Lx -..tty
 750,O0O,000.
 ASenate interstate commerce com-
 O. pntinued its hearings today on 2yft X giving the government power to .T, ns5iffnA# coal mines. National prohibi- EU,;,,, S I'D. A. Morrow of the Pittsburg -,l1t a7oducers' association, told the com opaE@e, would increase production and Egc far towards relieving the present shortage. Railroad representatives will be heard by the committee tomorrow