The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-06
EARLY FIXING OF
 RETAIL PRICE OF
 COAL PROMISED Dr. Garfield Issues State ment Outlining Policy of
 Government MAXIMUM PRODUCTION AND FAIRNESS IS AIM Not Purpose of Administra- tion to Allow Any Eff ciently Operated Mine
 to Run at Loss

Washington, September 5.
 Early fixing of retail coal Iprices was promised tonight by Dr. A. H. Garfield, the fuel administrator, in a statement outlining the gov
 ernment's coal control policy. Prices will be estab- lished for communities with the aid of local committees, into whose hands will be put responsibility for their en- forcement.
 Maximum production of coal at prices fair both to the producer and consumer will be the aim of the gov ernment, Dr. Garfield declares. Pro-
 ducers' prices already fixed will be revised where they force efficiently operated mines to produce at a loss. Operators seeking revision of the scale are asked to send in cost of production statistics covering . period of years.
 The fuel administration. Dr. Garfield says, will seek the cooperation of op-, orators, miners, distributors and ce.f- sumers. Producers are asked, however
 to namc no committees until Dr. Gar held has had time to select his as- sociates and to form his organization APPORTIONMENT PLAN A plan of apportionment of coal will be worked out. Dr. Garfield announces by which domestic consumers will ob- tain everywhere fair share of the supply at prices which will reflect those fixed for operators and whole salers by the President.
 The, statement follows: .'The task of the fuel administration lis to secure the largest possible pro duction of fuel at prices just to the producer and reasonable to the con sumer.
 COAL SITUATION "The coal situation briefly is this: The demand has vastly increased. It comes from factories and railroads, not from domestic consumers whose | use is normal. Factories and railroads must be kept going and households must be kept warm and we'll fed If the country is to be fl for its great task. We dare not forget that we are at war and that the cause we have at Iheaft depends. in large measure, upon abundant production and wide dis tribution of coal. We must produce all we can and distribute according to lneed. In addition to meeting the sit nation at home we must supply coal to our army and navy abroad and con { slider the. needs of our neighbors, es pecially Canada. Cuba and South Amer ica and some of the allies, whose sup ply is inadequate.
 ENCOURAGE PRODUCTION Tt is the purpose of the fuel ad
 ministration to encourage production,
 to utilize. as far as possible, all ex-
 isting agencies, to seek the advice of
 experts and the co operation of opera
 tors and miners. of industrial and do
 mestic consumers and of all who per
 form useful service in the production
 and distribution of coal.''
 Until further direction the following
 ruling will be observed:
 "The Presidents order fixing prices
 became effective for bituminous coal Tuesday evening. August 21. 1917: for anthracite coal Saturday, September 1. 1917. The Presidents order includes
 export and bunker coal. N
 ''The prices fixed are provisional They will stand unless changed by or
 <Continued on Pare Two,