Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-08-23
HARD COAL PRICES
WILL Be FIXED, TOO
President Wilson COnfers with
Trade Commission about
All War Prices.
STEEL TAKEN UP NEXT.
Almost Impossible to Fix Figures for
Steel Owing to Varying Costs Of
Production in Different Plants.

Washington, Aug. 22.-Anthracite coal
i is understood, is to be considered by the
government and prices fixed throughout
the industry. At present anthracite prices
ht the mines are kept down under a
voluntary arrangement reached some
months ago by the producers with the
federal trade commission. but no way has
been adopted for dealing with wholesalers
and retailers.
At three-hour conference with the
Federal trade commission to-day President
Wilson took up the whole subject OF war
prices and went over in detail the COM
missions figures on production costs. Most
of the time was given to study OF the
commissions report just completed on the
cost of producing steel.
Further measures to control the coal
Industry came in for discussion and it
was learned later that last nights order
fixing scale of prices for coal at the
mouth of the mine for the entire country
will be followed closely by others designed
to give the government n complete con-
troll of industry, from mine to consumer.
The President went to the trade commits
sion offices at three o'clock and remained
until six. He found Commissioners Da-
began. Before it had gone far the COM
mssioners called in Secretary Bracken
and experts who have handled the cost ac-
counting work. Together they explained
to the President details of reports on coal,
steel, copper and other basic materials and
outlined the work accomplished in getting
production costs on a number of materials
in which Investigations have not been
completed.
For several days now the President has
given his attention almost entirely to the
work the federal trade commission is do
ing. Officials with whom he has consulted
are of the opinion that a definite price pol
Icy will be formulated in the very near fu-
ture. Coal probably will be finally dis
posed of first and steel next.
The trade commissions steel investi-
cation revealed that it will be almost inn
possible to fix a price for steel as was
done in the case of coal. Varying costs
in different plants makes it impra cticable
1t is said, to make fiat price and, too
costs are continually changing. The plan
most favored by trade commission mem
bers is one under which the government
would determine the cost of producing
definite orders and would pay fair per-
centage of profit on each order.
The chief disadvantage of this sugges.
tion is that it provides no plan for pro-
tecting the general public in its pur
chases; and protection of the public
the President has emphasized. is one OF
the chief aims of the administration ir
enforcing reduction in prices The ad
ministration, however. is understood tC
be standing behind the Pomerene bill
pending in Congress. which would Civ,
the government virtually the same power:
in fixing prices on steel and other ma
terals as it now has in the case of coal
To extend the governments control owe
coal the President yet has to fl,
bituminous wholesale and retail price
and must issue regulations governing dis
tribution and apportonment as between
different parts of the country.