South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-08-17
URGE SPEED IN
FIXING PRICE,
Council of Defense Men of 13
States Send Resolution to
PreS't Wilson.

CHICAGO, Aug. 17-Represen-
tatives OF the council OF defense %
1 middle west states al "a confer
ence held here Thursday adopted
resolutions urging immediate action
By the federal government in fixing
"a reasonable price for coal and reg
ulating the distribution Of fuel by
the railroads in order 10 relieve the
crisis which threatens the country
copy Of the resolutions was teIe-
Eraphed 20 Prcs't Wilson
The conference adjourned 10 meet
again In Chicago next Thursday
when the Representatives OF The dif-
ferent states Will report data 20 be
gathered on the cost Of coal pro-
duction at various mines. Indiana
has been at work collecting this in
formation for three months while
Illinois and other states have similar
Investigations in progress. The fig
ures on the cost Of production OF
coal in the different states viii be
compared az the next conference
and probably "A committee named
20 20 10 Washington with the report
The various states will cooperate
in every possible way with Pres't
Wilson and the federal trade COM
mission in fixing the price of coal
and arranging for its distribution
Some Favor Federal Control.
Representative from a mum Der
OF states favored putting the entire
coal problem up 20 the federal gov
eminent. but Samuel insult and
Levy Mayer OF Illinois led a fight
for the states TO cooperate with
the federal officials in working out
the details OF the plan and finally
won their argument before the COM
mittee on resolutions
The report OF the committee on
resolutions which was adopted read
in part as follows:
The production. transportation
distribution and price of coal re-
quires immediate and drastic SUI
pervision. regulation and control.
both on the part of the federal gov
eminent and Of the states
The production Of coal must be
stimulated. encouraged and increas-
ed 20 the utmost capacity Of the
mines. so that the needs of the peO-
lie and industries OF this country
and Of our allies may be fully and
promptly met. In bringing about the
result, there must be no Interior
cnce with the earnings and wages
OF laborers.
Need for Reorganization.
There is an urgent necessity for
complete reorganization Of the
methods and machinery Of trans
portation and distribution. These
facilities should be at once enlarged
and increased to the utmost The
elimination OF delays i'm transporta-
ton. the dispatch of coal from the
mines 20 the nearest market 10y the
shortest route the avoidance of the
shipping OF coal into coal producing
states the abuse of reconsignment
privileges. delays in unloading
these and other practices which in
terfere with the production and dis
patch in handling of coal should be
at once corrected. We urge that the
mine gate ways OF Lake Erie be
utilized 20 the fullest extent At
present only two are So used.
The price Of coal is unreason-
ably excessive and i'm many cases
extortionate Therefore. il is recon-
mended that the governors and the
state councils in the coal producing
states should Immediately proceed
IF they have not already done so.
with the ascertainment of the APP
proximate cost of producing. hand
ling and 6istributing coal 20 the ul-
innate consumers and we recon-
mend that this be done. that a re-
port can be made 10 an adjourned
meeting OF this conference 10 he
held in Chicago on next Thursday,
Aug IS.
seek No Conflict OF Action.
we recommend that I'm those
states where proceedings are already
on foot 10 TX the price OF coal TO
the ultimate consumer. such pro
ceedings shall continue 90 their final
conclusion. Whatever action is so
had shall be co-ordinated with such
steps as the federal government may
take. Il being the purpose of this
report 10 make IL plain 10 the peo-
ple Of this country that there is no
desire. and that no attempt should
be made 20 bring about 81 conflict he
tween federal and state authorities
"The purpose OF this conference
is 20 accomplish general and uni