Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-01
Explanations offered.

- Several explanations for the letter were
suggested last night among those faminar
with the situation. One was that the De-
partment Of Justice is anxious that the
tate Of pending prosecutions In New York
against a few coal operators be not
teopardized by the action taken here re-
garding prices.
Those who take a different view believe
that in the near future there may be an
issue in the cabinet that will involve the
very problem presented in this case. Some
members of the cabinet are understood to
feel that the best way to handle big
business interests in war time is to appeal
to their sense Of patriotism and fair play
and that a little more than ordinary proiis
stimulate production Another group Is
understood to feel that there must be q
constant use of the great power of govern
ment to coerce business interests to give
the lowest possible prices.
How deep the difference goes has not
become apparent. but 1t is possible that
temperance viii lead to many DIM
cu1ties among officials.
The price fixing agreement was reach
Cd after 400 operators called here by
the coal production committee had
adopted resolutions authorizing their
committees to give assent to such maxi
mum bituminous prices as might be
named by the Secretary Of the Interior.
the federal trade commission and the
coal committee.
The resolution was reported by Trade
Commissioner Fort from a special COM
mittee. In presenting 1t for adoption
Mr.. Fort declared he believed 1t was
entirely safe for the conference to adopt.
and that any responsibility as to the
government. and not on the operators
under the terms Of the resolution.
Expressed Fear Of Prosecution.
sonse operators had expressed fear
that they might be prosecuted under
the antitrust laws II they entered into
m agreement among themselves to lower
prices.
An onicial announcement made through
the public information committee said
that in the final conference cost prices
and other confidential information were
laid on the table and the government
representatives. acting as judges. decid-
ed what would be the highest prices
paid at the mines. the prices to go into
aneoe. To-day and to remain in effect
until Investigations are made and other
secretary Baker indicated that as
|uresident Of the defense council he had
received no notification of the arrange
msnt reached at the conferences. His
litter to Mr. Clifford said:
s1Gy attention has been called
thx6ugh the newspapers to the action
rDorted to have been taken at Wash
ton. D. c.. during the past week
~ the so-called committee on coal
hefense. in cooperation with certain
coal producers. and representatives OF
coal mining enterprises. with regard
20 the price of bituminous and anthra-
cite coal.
The facts seem to be that the coal
production committee invited to Wash
1ngton various coal operators and ar
ranged conference between Them mem
hers Of the coal production committee and
members Of the federal trade commission
IN a@~
In favor of an early and accurate de-
termination Of the costs involved in
fhe production of bituminous and an
thracite coal. as a basis for some future
action by some official agency of the
government in fixing fair and just
pr<ces for these products. should any
such agency be given power to do so.
Cites Alleged Agreement.
Pending such an ascertainment of
costs. this meeting seems to have
adopted a resolution whereby the