Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-24

HARRY A. GARFIELD.
Anthracite coal. the kind used In
millions OF homes for ordinary heating
and cooking purposes. has come under
the Jurisdiction of the Presidents war
power. and an executive order fixing
reasonable prices on this commodity
was issued from the White House last
night In addition, the President an
nounced the appointment of Harry A.
Garfield. president of William College.
as coal administrator. fully empow
to take charge OF the coal situation. A
, further step toward controlling the
bituminous coal situation. taken last
night. was a limit of profits to be al
lowed bituminous wholesalers.
1t is believed by federal trade off,
eials and others that the manner in
which the anthracite coal matter has
been handled will reduce the price of
coal to consumers in material figures.
The prices fixed are prices at the mines
and are effective September l.
How Consumer Will Profit.
They are not much different from the
prices already charged under a volun-
tary agreement between producers and
the Federal Trade Commission. How
ever, when the next step is taken. and
the regulations for distributing coal
are made. it will be seen that the
prices which tobbers and wholesalers
may set will act very favorably on the
pocketbook of the family man.
In case the mines fail to observe the
regulations prescribed, the President
has power given him in the food bill to
take over and operate the properties.
A corporation similar to the wheat cor
poration of the food administration has
been suggested as a possible means of
handling the industry in case the price,
nxing does not operate satisfactorily.
The anthracite scale effective Sep
tenber ! for railroad-owned mines.
which include practically all the big
producers. follows: White ash. broken.
SASS; egg. s4.4s; stove. H-7o: chestnut.
ssg. $3.50: stove. $3.50: chestnut. $3.50.
pea, $40. Lykens valley, broken, S.:
egg. $3.50: stove, $3.50; chestnut. $40.
and pea. S4.35. Joboers are allowed to
add profit Of not more than 20 cents
per ton for deliveries east OF Buffalo
and not more than 80 cents west Of
Buffalo.
Other producers may charge an ad-
vance Of rs cents a ton Of 2.o40 pounds
owned mines. Those who incur the ex-
pense of rescreening It at Atlantic or
lake ports may add an additional 5
cents a ton.
Profits Of Jobbers Limited.
Anthracite tobbers delivering coal at
Buffalo and points east Of that city
VIII be allowed maximum profit OF 20
cents ton Of 2.240 pounds, and those
delivering II west of Buffalo may
charge an excess of 80 cents. The COM
bined gross profits of any number OF
exceed the limit of profit set for a
single jobber; except that a screening
charge of cents may be made on
water shipments at Atlantic or lake
ports
Bituminous profits for Jobbers are fixed
At Is cents a ton Of 1000 pounds, and
the same restrictions that govern deal
(: tngs by a number of anthracite jobbers
apply to bituminous transactions.
The Presidents order forbids railroad
owned mines from selling to other mines
and prohibits dealers from selling coal
produced by railroad-owned mines on a
basis Of prices fixed for other mines.
The bituminous jobbers prices become
effective Immediately, as did bituminoua
mine prices announced Wednesday night
Dealers to Be Licensed.
The coal administration will be or
gained as soon as DR.. Garfield has COM
pleted his work of recommending to the
food administration a government price
for the 1917 wheat crops. DR.. Garfield
price-fxing committee. Il was said to-
day. would be ready to announce a price
within few days.
DR.. Garfield announced he would insti-
tute licensing system for all coal
dealings from the mine to the retailer
and that II prices were fixed for retail
ers the licensing would be extended tc
cover retail dealings.
Under the law giving the Presiden,
control OF fuels the government can
take over and operate any mines fail
ing to observe regulations prescribed
A corporation similar to the whea,
corporation of the food administration
has been suggested as possibility to
prepare the government to handle the
situation IL the price-hxing plan does
not work out satisfactorily. The last
resort under the law is government
reauisitioning Of the output of ali
The organization of an operating and
purchasing corporation would provide
All the machinery necessary to put the
communicating provision OF the Law
Into operation.
Retail Prices Problem.
Fixing Of retail prices presents .
tangled problem. Handling costs ar,
not the same in any two cities and Z
nat gross margin that will assure
On the other hand q percentage prof
plan would present even more difficul
ties because of trouble in keeping tracl
OF bookkeeping methods.
Some officials believe retail prices ma,
be reduced by exposure of the dealeri
who have been reaping exoroitan
profits. Already the trade commission
10 publishing reports Of its investiga
tions in various cities. designed I,
show that in anthracite PARTICULAR,
the retailer largely is to blame fol
high prices.
There has been virtually no complain
OF anthracite prices charged at tn,
mines since the producers and the trad,
commission agreed some months ags
on q scale Of prices. but there has beer
no law under which jobbers and re
tansrs could be curbed. In fixing an
thrAcite prices. however. It was deemed
essential that prices be fixed at thu
mines. a. well ~ elsewhere.
The biggest problem ahead of the Goa
administration, as seen by officials VIII.
have studied the situation, IL the labo,
oaeuA0on- The general reduction o
prices In the bituminous fields probabl,
means that labor viii be disappoinfe;
- many requests tor wage. inersassl