The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-06-23
BORAH BACKS THE PLAN
Wants Wilson to Set All
Charges Even to Clothes
Workers Wear.
DENMAN URGES PROBE
Business Men Not in Accord
With Drastic Action by
Federal Board.

WASHINGTON, June 22-Government
price fixing was brought sharply into
the foreground Of public discussion to-
day by developments indicating 1t to ~
the purpose OF the Administration.
backed up by It's supporters at the Capt.
tol. to make sweeping Investigations into
production costs. These developments
were as follows:
The decision OF the Senate Commit
tee on Interstate Commerce to hold an
investigation into coal prices prelimi-
nary to reporting q resolution authoris-
ing the President to fix the price of coal
at the mines not only for the Govern
ment but for the general public.
Introduction in the Senate by Senator
ing food bill authorizing the Federal
Trade Commission to fix fair and rea-
sonable prices both wholesale and re-
tail on steel. coal. oil. farm materials.
food products and even the clothing OF
wage workers. such prices to be an.
nounced in a proclamation by the Presi.
dent. which would make it a crime to
exceed them.
Announcement by Chairman Denman
ask the Federal Trade Commission to
investigate and fix the price on the steel
for ships despite the fact that Gen.
Goethals had referred this matter to the
steel committee Of the Council Of Ma.
! tional Defence.
Business Men at Odds.
An indication that the business men
associated with the Council Of National
I Defence are not in entire accord with
the Governments drastic proposals, par.
ticularly in the matter of coal prices is
! the issuance of statement by the com.
mittee on coal production that in It's be-
lief the continued increase in the produc-
/ ton of coal together with other meas
ures now being taken would automati.
! cally bring coal prices to their proper
/ level.
: A discussion by the Cabinet at to-
, days meeting of the price situation and
, particularly the matter of coal prices
affecting both this country and the Allies.
! with indications of a divergence of senti-
/ ment on the general policy appearing
among the Presidents official advisers.
! The first industry to feel the grip Of
! the Federal Government tightening
! upon 1t for the purpose OF combating
! what appears to Administration officials
/ to be a tendency toward extortion will
/ tors. The resolution giving the Pres-
! dent power to fix coal prices was intro
/ duced by Senator Pomerene. who has dis
cussed this entire matter with the
| President
A subcommittee of the Senate Com
| mittee on Interstate Commerce, to which
! the Pomerene resolution was referred, de-
cided to-day to call upon the operators
from the Pittsburg district and from
tr,,n tn
| Tuesday and explain many things in
connection with coal production.
! They will be compelled to recite their
reas for advancing the price Of bi-
| luminous coal from range OF prices
between sl50 and 50 per ton to $3.50
and SIS per ton in the face OF a wage In
crease OF less than 20 cents per ton
and with freight rates the same as they
were three yeais ago.
The joint resolution OF Congress un-
der which Senator Pomerene and his
colleagues will conduct next weeks
hearings Is exceedingly broad in its
, scope. II passed by the Congress II
will assure the President OF COM
plete price fixing power over the coal
producers OF the United States. 1t IL .
war measure pure and simple. accord
ing to Senator Pomerene, who said to-
! night:
|
tion the President may. through the
Federal Trade Commission. have the
prices for bituminous and other coal
fixed and the operators VIII he com
PEELED to furnish the coal at the Gov
ernments fixed price and If they are not
satisfied with these pri es sue for the
difference in open courts.
Coal In,cstiGation Needed.
Its necessity arises from the fact
that coal prices have heru' advanced to
consumers. industria, nrd commercial. in
the Pitt sburG and other coal fields to
twice thrice ard in Son;e Instances Ave
times their normal and tustifabl. basis
Look At what II means In tie mann
faCture et steel shapes. It is practically
\ automatic that to manufacture a ton Of
steel shapes requires the con hustion OF
one ton &c coal on the basis of the
price advances iu the region Of Canton,
ohio. a great and Developed manufacture
ing centre. this means that with ths
price Of ran os mine coal advanced from
$40 delivered AT the mills to IS. as II
il to-day, the cost OF manufacturing
these shapes s advanced just that dit
ference before even the first item OF
labor cost can he calculated.
Use cost Of run of minc coal at the
mine, three years ago was 30 cents q
ton The labor rates have advanced from
10 to 90 cents ton. The rest Of this
advance is exclusively war prott.
"rhc charge of "A car shortage won't
lie either. Throughout Ohio and Indiana
there arn ranks and ranks OF freight
cars standing laden with coal ready for
delivery. II Is not sum 1ient to explain
price adVacnes of from 50 to 500 PEI
cent
Senator Newlands who is believed to
reflect the Administration views "a id to-
day that the industry and commerce Of the
United states must accommodate them
selves To the war time tendency toward
the Federal regulation of industry. com
mcrce and manufacture He said that
II the young manhood of the nation wa.
; to be drafted to war 1t was surely time
for business. and industry to realize Il