The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-08-20
COAL PRICES
EXORBITANT
This Is the Report of the
Federal Trade Com
mission
DISTRIBUTION
NEGOTIABLE
Operators Put Their Case
Before President
Wilson

Washington, Aug. Gothic federal
trade commission, which has just COM
pleted it's investigation of coal produc-
ton cost, probably will submit II findings
to President Wilson in few days Gov
eminent control of the industry, in ac-
cordance with provisions Of the food con-
troll law, now appears imminent. The
situation was gone over at conference
Saturday between the president, Francis
s. Peabody, chairman of the coal produc-
tion committee of the council of nation.
al defense, and John p White, president
of the United Mine Workers of America
The food control act authorized the pres
ident TO Ak coal prices from the mine to
the consumer and requisition the fuel
for sale to the public. The operators
and miners who oppose government price
fixing fear that sale prices will be
terests will be jeopardized.
The trade commissions report will say
that at present prices coal operators, job
bers and retailers are reaping exorbitant
profits, and that inequitable distribution
is adding to the costs in many parts of
the country.
Operators and miners who oppose gov
eminent price fixing in the fear that
prices will be pushed down TO too low
a level put their case before the president
through Francis s. Peabody. chairman Of
the coal production committee of the
council of national defense and John p
White, president of the United Mine
Workers of America. Their idea of a So
luton of the situation, as expressed to
the president, is that a voluntary ar
rangement be made between operators, |
miners and the government and that no
move be made towards enforcement of |
the drastic provisions of the food bill.
The coal situation, according to Off
cials who have studied the subject is in
a more chaotic state now than it has
been at any time. Miners throughout |
the country are threatening TO strike
unless their wages are raised to give |
them share Of the enormous profits
made. Prices are soaring despite the
agreement made recently between gov
eminent heads and the operators and
many sections of the country face win
ter with scanty supplies of fuel.
Under the program which many of the
officials believe President Wilson is most
likely to adopt the power to control the
would provide that the govern.
ment commander all coal produced, d-
viding the country into districts and fix
ing maximum price for each district.
The output would be pooled and every
operator would get the same percentage
Of profit whatever might be his cost
Of production. Six states produce about
IS per cent of the eountry's total btu
ninous output. Since there are alto
yether 26 coal producing states some
districts would include several states.
The aim would be to form the districts
10 that production costs in each would
iary but little, although the difference
districts might be considerable.
This plan would mean that the trade
or whatever agency the pres
dent selects to administer provisions to
he law, would direct distribution by dis
riot.
Evidences that the country is grow
ng FESTIVE under continued high prices
we're seen by officials in the demand by
representatives. of thirteen state councils
# defense, meeting in Chicago, that the
government take immediate action. Gov
rnors of some Of the middle western ,
tates are urging state action to relieve
he situation unless the federal govern.
nent moves quickly
One element that is giving officials
most concern is the evident intention of
abor TO force immediate wage increases. +,
TENDERS of the trade commission. it is
believe the prices to be de-
ermined for coal should give wide
nough margin of profit to insure labor
fair wage.
Operators blame the unequal distribu.
ion of coal on the railroads, which they
ny are not distributing cars promptly.
his difficulty, officials believe. win be
vercome by proper administration of
he new law giving the interstate com
lission wider powers in placing cars and
directing their movements.