New Britain herald., 1917-08-22
RESIDENT FIXES SOFT COAL PRICE
Announces S2 Per Ton at Mine for Government and Public

wash,nrton. Aug. 22.-President
 Vilson issued a sweeping order last kfrhty fixing the base price of bitum-
 nous coal in all of the big producing districts at approximately $2 ton, k1 n ton under the schedule agreed knon at a recent conference of coal knerators with the coal production 4brmittee of the Council of National
 pefenso Secretary Lane of the in- |cr,or department, and Commissioner tSort of the Federal Trade comnis- kion. .. A. this conference q price of S3 a kon had been fixed for bituminous koal at the mouth of the mine and ks.6o for special sizes with a re- Function of 50 cents a ton on govern 3ment contracts. The conference de- Sision was repudiated in the war and havy departments.
 The president, in his order, did not &ifcrentiate between the government Ind the consuming public, but, ap- \ entirely in keeping with his address Sf July 12, when he said that in all Sssential commodities there should be
 single price.
 Text of Price Fixing Order. The presidents statement is as fol- |Dws:
 White House, Washington, Aug. 21, 1917. The following scale of prices is prescribed for bituminous coal at tho mine in the several coal-pro- ducing districts. It is provisional only. It is subject to reconsider Ation when the whole method of administering the fuel supplies of the country shall have been sat- isfactorily organized and put. into operation Subsequent measures will have as their object fair and equitable control of the dis trfbution of the supply and of the prices, hot only at the mines but < also in the hands of the middle < mon and the retailers.
 The prices provisionally fixed
 here are fixed by my authority
 ,. under the provisions of the re- < cent act of congress regarding administration of the food supply ! of the country. which also con- ferred upon the executive control Of the fuel supply. They are ' baved upon the actual cost of b production and are deemed to be
 not only fair and just but liberal z as well. Under them the indus s try should nowhere lack 'stmd-
 lation.
 President Has Full Power.
 pro.,dant Wilson has full powers to nforce the prices he fixes under the pod control law, and the tenor or lis order made it evident that he in- ended to do so to the fullest extent Inless an obvious flaw were brought to ,is attention. He said that, in hls ,pinion, the prices he quoted, after areful investigation of the findings of ,roduction cost by the Federal Trade should be helpful to of the industry.
 There was a feeling that the Presi- Ient's schedule of prices would come .s something of a shock to the coal industry. and 1t was considered here ,s an indication that he would take ,oon a much more decisive step to place the coal supply of the country ander federal control. Some of the ,perators have been obtaining prices wreatly in excess of those named by Inc president, and it is said that, be- ,aaase of the action anticipated, few had clung to the conference agree ment.
 Robbers and midd1emen also, accord ne to reports which have reached here have been obtaining what some be- Ilaxed to be extortionate profits fol lMair part in the distribution of coal yha action taken tonight seemed te naxe certain that the end of sucf p4actices was in sight.
 A sliding scale of prices was fixed p9 s1,o preaident for mines in various lo ,. 1,ties and all bituminous coal Is tf l,o u,pplied under his ruling, on th' rars. The lowest price he names 1o1 coa1 as it comes from the mouth O tha mines is $190 a ton, or $1.lo De scw the universal" price suggested .t the recent conference attended D. inc operators. The highest price a2s aL ton in the State of Washington ~h.re mining is conducted unde rreat difficulties.
 For prepared sizes the rates rang from s2.15 a ton to $3.bO, striking al average which is also about $l unoe the conference agreement.
 As the Presidents order dlo no state definitely whether the price seal was meant to affect existing contracts there was some confusion at first as u he interpretation to be placed on Il
 But study of the act showed Una
 Section 25 expressly provided that tn
 nrice fixing authorized was not to ap1
 i,- to visiting contracts.
 UPHOLDS SUNDAY BALL.
 Nashville, Tenn. Aug. 22.--An 1T
 function against Sunday baseba
 games in Nashville. sought by tn state attorney-general on orders fro1
 Gov. Rye, was refused yesterday b
 Special Judge R. F.. Blake in the Gil
 cult Court here. A temporary lnjunt
 fion had been refused by Jude
 Thomas E. Matthews of the Circu
 ,,,,r4 |, ,ftor bo visited the ball par