The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-08-23
Steel. Copper. Iron, Oil and
Lumber Production Costs
Now Under Probe
SOFT COAL MEN SEND
OUT CALL FOR MEETING
President's Price Fixing Starts
Them Quickly to Work to
Show the abnormal Con-
ditions' Existing In Mines

Washington. Aug. 22.-Prestdent
Wilson once again took firm hold OF
the reins in the governments price
nxlng campaign today.
He was closeted for three hours
with the members of the federal
trade commission and their experts.
They considered every possible de-
tall regarding coal. steel, copper iron.
oil and lumber.
As an immediate result II is ex-
pected that the president will make
announcement within the next TWEEN
ty-four hours of a price for steel and
copper together with some regulatory
measure for anthracite coal
1t Is expected that the executive
Will take no further steps toward the
administration of his bituminous coal
prices until he has named a coal die
tator. X also Is regarded certain that
no attention VIII be given to the pro-
tests or the biiuminous d6ai produce
ers a present.
soft Coal Men Call Meeting.
While the hitumiuous producers
were making plans for a meeting OF
all operators to consider the "ahnor-
NAL conditions" under which they
claim they are forced To work. and
reports we're being received from all
parts OF the C..l producing territory
Of threats To shut down mines unless
the operators we're allowed to ahro-
gate existing contracts and vase
scales the president and the federal
trade commission forged Serenely
ahead on a program OF price slashing
I, is believed this will result in cuts
Of from 20 10 per cent on some of
the basic materials entering into the
conduct Of the war Coal is the only
product Al the present time. which
will he lowered in price to the gen
ern' public
The president went over the reports
prepared nv the commissions experts
with Comm Issionevs Davies and Col
ser. He then called in David Wing.
the commission coal expert. Mr..
Wing gave further figures on the
production Of bitumiDous coal and
,hen produced the results Of the in
vestseations into cost Of production OF
anthracite.
= Steel Prices Discussed.
sy-.7.. r. SS+ * .a.LhaSs me eE3gs tylissiou =
steel expert. explained the steel stu
alton. giving figures on the total pro-
duction Of the country, the prospects
for increasing the output and pro-
duction at the various mills, lnciud-
ed In his estimates were figures on
Iron production. These are said 20
show that the production has forged
ahead by leaps and bounds and dis
pei all fears Of a shortage. The pres'-
dent was strongly impressed by the
figures given by Mr.. Walker While
he has said that no prices will be
ffxed which will he confiscatorv or
so low as not to offer an incentive
for expansion and stimulation of in
dustrv, there liz wide divergence of
opinion. even among the steel makers
Themselves as to what constitutes a
fair pxice There IL much specula-
lion whether the president will Ak one
prfce for all steel mills or one based
on cost OF production plus fair profit.
Figures on oil, copper and lumber
ware given to the president ny L. Fl.
fancy, another of the cemrission's
experts. hut"it IL underst God that less
attention was given them than the
steel and coal estimates.
The president now has in his pos
session all the facts necessary. He
has intimated that he thoroughly
agrees with the trade commissioner
IN several of the prices but that he
wifi use his own discretion IN fixing
others.
II is believed the president viii not
and Il necessary to name steel die
4tator. as the war Industries board and
lfederal trade commission. with what
HELM can be afforded by the raw ma
tcriaIs committee Of the council OF
national defense. will provide all the
machinery necessary to enforce what
ever price may be named.
Coal Men Chew Rag.
The National Coal Operators asso-
citation representing production of
i60.ooo0oo tons year held another
long session in the offices Of Chair
man Peabody, OF the council of ma
tfonal defense coal committee TODAY,
when all phases OF the president's
order were discussed. It Ia said that
10 continue present contracts under
the terms would be ruinous and that
a the higher wage scales demanded by
the miners, and agreed to In many
districts, cannot be paid with prices
cut down to the governments figures
The coal men 1t was stated are
anxious to cooperate to the fullest
extent with the government. but they
helieye there should be a further ad :
tue4ment OF the coal situation hefore
definite prices are fixed The execu-
tive committee. composed Of II.
Taylor. Kansas City; F. c. Honnold.
Chicago: A. NJ Ogle. Terre Haut~.
Ind: George II. Barker, Columbus. O..
Rembrandt Peale. Baltimore; J. H.
Wheelwrirht, Knoxville. Tenn: w. X
Field. Pittsbure and J. J. Tierney.
philadelphia, sent out letter to ope-
rators today, saying:
TT 10 deemed OF the greatest i'm
portAnce that the coal producers of
the United States meet as soon as pos
oible for the purpose OF discussing and
considering the abnormal conditions;
under which the industry Is now
asked to labor.
Accordingly. the National Assoc
citation of Coal Operators extends an.
Invitation to all bituminous coal pro-
ducers Of the country to meet at the
william Penn hotel. Pittsburg. at 10
~ - Wednesday. August ~. 1si1."