Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-09-18
WILL REQU|S|T|ON
COAL At MINE AND
FORCE PRICES DOWN
DR., Garfield, Fuel Administra-
tor, DiSCIoSeS Government
Plans to Provide Coal for
Small Consumer

WASHINGTON, Sept 15.-Plans for
taking care of the small consumers
coal needs this winter by requisitioning
so-called spot coal at the mines and
directing it's sale through local dealers
at government-fiXed prices, were DIS
closed tonight by DR.. H. A. Garfield.
the fuel administrator.
The first move under this arrange
ment, Dr. Garfield explained. will be to
ascertain, through state fuel admins
traitors soon to be named, the exact
requirements Of each state above the
amounts that have been contra ted for.
These will be assembled and the total
supply required will be apportioned
among the country's mines. Operators
will be required to trim their contracts
enough to enable them to supply the
necessary amount Of spot coal.
The amount Of the probable def
cheney in coal in each state will be as
certained by state administrators
through local committees, which also
will be charged with distributing the
coal when obtained. The coal will be
handled through regular dealers, but
the committees will see that IT is ap-
portioned properly.
TO RE-ADJUST PRICES.
A general REIMBURSEMENT of mine
prices fixed recently by President Will
son will be recommended by DIR. Gar
field within the next few weeks. II is
regarded as likely that many of the
prices, based on cost Of production f1g-
ures furnished by the federal trade
commission, will be increased slightly.
No Individual mine prices will be re-
vised until the entire new scale IS
worked out, although some temporary
increases may be made pending a final
scale.
Retail prices will be fixed for every
community in the country possibly
within two weeks The prices will be
tentative and will remain in force until
final prices are fixed on the recommen-
dations of the local board committees.
The new retail prices, DR.. Garfield said
today, will represent a considerable re-
duction in costs to the consumer.
Jobbers and retailers under the re-
tail price fixing plan stand to lose mon
ey on any coal that they have have pur-
chased and stored at the high prices
that have prevailed, and one reason for
delaying the fixing of retail prices, DR..
Garfield said today, was to give them
an opportunity to get rid of their
stocks.
To enforce regulations to be drawn
up. Dr. Garfield intends tolicense not
only coal producers, but jobbers ana
retailers as well.
THE greatest problem facing u.s."
said DR.. Garfield tonight, "is to get out
of the ground all the coal we possibly
can to supply ourselves and those coun-
tries depending on us for fuel
There are four needs for coal
transportation, manufacturing, public
utilities and the householder. All must
be supplied. One of our contentious IS
that the output shall not be reduced
In distributing the spot coal requisi-
toned, DR.. Garfield will call in the d.
rector of priority of shipment and the
interstate commerce commission that
1t may be moved by the shortest routes.
AS contracts expire all coal will be sold
as spot coal and the fuel administration
may be called on to supervise all scales.
DR.. Garfield said: 81 would not ad-
wise the consumer to store any coal at
the present prices, because prices prop
ably will be brought down"
The labor situation in mines is giving
the fuel administration considerable
concern. Miners in many fields are de-
manding higher wages, which operators
decline to pay on the ground that the
government-fxed prices for coal will
not permit any increased cost of pro-
duction.