The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-07-02
Nay Include Complete ReOr
ganizatiion Of Council
81 National Defense.
AN PRICE FIXING POLICY
Matter Expected to Come to
Head at Cabinet Meet
ingI

WASHINGTON, July 2.-official
Washington awakened yesterday to
ne possibilities of trouble in Score
az Bakers reputation Of the coal
priee liking arrangement secured by
Secretary Lane and the coal produc;
ton committee Of the Council of Ma
lonal Defense, by which operators
east ot the Mississippi river agreed to
cut their mine prices from 81 to S.
per tom
So far there is no indication that
the issue has become acute or that
there WIN be a spit in the cabinet
the President has kept around him
With few changes for four years and
hale but Mt! Bakers public crit
lcism Of Ihis colleagues course and his
adnonition to the coal committee that
1t had exceeded Its powers, is regard
Cd as certain to be discussed at length
when the President meets his official
family, Tuesday.
IN the opinionsof many officials the
question: may involve the entire make
up ol tie Council OF National Defense
and Its subordinate civilian commit.
tees Of business men, and echoes may
be heard in legislation from congress.
Some believe that general price fix.
ing BY the government under Law is
not an imppssibflity as result
The situation has brought to the
mont again reports Of wide differences
among cabinet members and other
j government OFFICIALS s'to a war pur.
( chasing policy.
One element, said to include most
of the membership Of theN defense
copncil,s committees, Is for purchas.
ms policy that will allow liberal pro.
1ts til producers to stimulate produc-
nom. These officials declare the gov
ernment will obtain far better service
Il the government does not try to
drive its bargains too hard. They
point to the coal price agreement as
the proper way to arrive at buying ar
rangements particularly because
through this plan the general public
as veil as the government enjoys the
low prices obtained.
Other officials believe the govern.
ment should bring every pressure to
obtain the lowest possible price, and
some, It Is said, are for commander.
ing supplies.
NO government agancy now has the
power 70 fx prices either for the gov.
sinment or for the general public.
The federal trade commission, which
Is Investigating production and manu-
occurring costs on basic material,
takes the positin that any prices
freed on between the government
and producers, or fixed under the pow.
ar to commander, should go to the
General public as well.
e the government goes into the
uarltet for large purchases at low pri.
ces, Il Is pointed out the private con.
sumner win be forced to pay even high.
1I prices than he now pays because
PRODUCERS under no sort Of restraint
van raise their prices to him to make
un Tor their loss in selling to the gov
ernment. Some members Of the com
mission are for legislation to meet
this difficulty.
ia making the arrangement with the
coal men the interior department
pointed out that it would mean If it
stood fora year saving of nearly
500, 100000 to the consuming indus
tries ana he5public.
The situa ion now existing probably
WIN serve to hasten the movement to
Isarrange the committee system of
tic delensei council, which contem.
plales establishment Of purchasing
ONCE for government supplies. One
thing that has delayed this reorgani-
zation, II Is understood, is the differ
ence 81 opinion as to how far the gov.
ernment should 90 In its efforts to re-
duce prices to consumers generally.