Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-06-29

souri, calling upon the federal
trade commission to Inform the
senate why II has not ordered newo
print paper manufacturers to de-
sFst from "IIieoaI practices and ex-
orbltant charges" was passed To-
day by the senate without ehJeo-
ton.
! Washington. d. c., June 28-The
conference Of 400 operators. represents
ing all coal producing states, took
quick action today toward lowering
coal prices by adopting resolution
authorizing their committees to give
assent to such maximum prices for
coal free on board cars at mines IN
the various districts as may be named
by the secretary OF the interior. fed
eral trade commission and the coun-
ell Of national defense coal production
committee.
An immediate general reduction Of
81 to s1.50 a ton in the price Of coal
at the mine was agreed upon by repre-.
sentatives OF the coal operators.
This reduction Is expected to be fol-
lowed by still further decreases In
price after investigation into the costs
Of mining coal and It Is probable that
the government will be given still
lower price than that TO the general
public.
Hundreds Of millions OF dollars will
be saved to the American people
through this decision.
About 100000 900 tons Of coal were
mined in this country last year and
Secretary Lane who has earnestly ,irg-
ed = reduction, believes that the saw
Ing to the American people will Be
enormous.
After hearing Of the operators &C
ton Mr.. Lane wrote letter to +. 8.
Peabody, chairman OF the coal produc-
ton committee, commencing the coal
men for their oction and asking that
the spirit OF the resolution be put into
effect Immediately
SAFE FROM TRUST" CHARGE.
The resolution giving assent" to
fixing Of maximum prices was reported
by former Governor Fort, from spec.
ial committee. He said he believed
the resolution was entirely safe for the
conference to adopt as any responsi.
bility as to the legality of the fixing
Of the prices Is put on the govern
|ment. and not on the operators.
uc IcSOlUllOA, o1SCI ROAhSAA6 Wv
that a great national emergency exists
In the nations fuel supply. and that
the coal operators and miners desire
to closely cooperate with the govern.
ment. reads:
Resolved. that It Is the sense OF
this meeting that a committee OF
seven for each coal producing state
and an additional committee OF
~
taives OF the anthracite industry,
he appointed by the representa-
tives OF each state now attending
this convention. to confer with the
secretary Of the interior. the fed
eral trade commission and the
committee on coal production Of
the council of national defense,
to the end that production be
stimulated and plans be perfected
to provide adequate means OF dis
tribution, and, further. that these
committees report forthwith to the
trade commission and the commit
tee on coal production Of the coun-
ell Of national defense of the costs
and conditions surrounding the
prduction and distribution of coal
In each district and that these
committees are authorized In their
discretion to give assent to such
maximum prices for coal I. 0. b..
cars at mines in the various dis
tricts as may be named by the
secretary of the interior, the fed
eral trade commission and the
committee on coal production OF
the council OF national defense.
ACTION Is UNANIMOUS.
The resolution was adopted unan.
imously. 1t was revision Of for
mer resolution recalled because Of
fear that question might be raised as
to the legality of the operators agree
ing upon a price even though at the
instance of the government Attorney
General Gregory had sent word that
r. Cotton Lewis. special assistant at.
torney general. who had been confer
ring with the operators. had no right
or authority to outline what the gov
ernment's policy might be under the
antitrust laws in connection with price
fixing
REDUCTION EFFECTIVE JULY I.
The second resolution directing the
conference committee to proceed i'm
mediately to Ak tentative price with
out waiting for ascertainment of costs.
| was adopted practically unanimously.
| II authorized the secretary Of the in
| terror. the federal trade commission
and the defense council committee on
coal production ''to forthwith issue q
| statement fixing a tentative maximum
price. which. in their judgment, is fair