The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-06-30

WASHINGTON. June % - Coal
prices reductions agreed on yesterday
by the country's bituminous produc
crs at a conference with government
officials will be strictly enforced.
With the weight Of the industry S
iapproval behind the agreement and
certain Of the fact that the govern
ment will take control if il is not liv'
ed up to, the coal committee OF the
! Council Of National Defense will take
quick measures 10 prevent any Waver
ing. Today the committee warned op
/ orators at Decatur, Ills. who raised
! their prices beyond the limit sci, tha'
the industry would not tolerate thelI
action.
i The coal committee has given each
Of its twenty-six members supeLIi
! sion of one coal production district
and every man will be held reponsi
| Bile for prices in his territory. The
! Federal Trade Commission will DC
called on for aid if difficulties arise
! As To Anthracite.
| The price of anthracite. arranged
some time ago at conferences between
! producers and the trade commission
probably will be further reduced 70
Cosumcrs, it was said today, through
! regulation OF jobbers and retailer prol
its. The coal committee. the trade
, commission and Secretary Lane cx'
pect TO call anthracite dealers togeth
er soon 10 work out a plan for FUR
| nishing cheaper coal 10 the house
! holder. Under an agreement with the
trade commission. anthracite is sell
! ing At the mine nov only thirty cents
! higher than last year, but joboers anc
retailers are adding so much 10 the
cost officials say tho price TO the con
sumcr is far higher than il should be.
/! Bituminous jobbers will not be al
! lowed to raise coal prices beyond rh(
! mine price, with the addition or Inc
| freight and other profit of % cents ;
ton. If consumer has dithcuR! u
getting coal and finds he can get il
onIy by paving some jobber more thar
! the 25 cents profit. the coal commit
lee can be appealed TO and Will SCI
/ that he gets coal direct from the mine
at the mine price.
Don't Apply to Exports.
j The new prices will not apply TO ex
port trade and will not disturb exist
, ing contracts. Export prices. II IS De
, licved. however. may be anected !
! the American SON el llAl1h' ''A'N Wv -
; lies get together on an agreement u
stabilize prices between all the Alice
/ one method of equalzing bitumi in
: ous prices to the consumer will ot
| sought in a rearrangement OF fre1gh
! hauls, Some middle western opera
tors are said to be selling now In tn
! east, while eastern operators are de
:liyering their product in the middle
west. The coal committee plans al
entire Encouragement of shipments. Il
be worked out with the aid OF the wa
railroad board.
The Coal Shortage.
The coal shortage. members Of th'
coal committee insist. is due entlrel.
IN inadequate car service. Bttumin
nus mines produced last year 10000
00O tons. working 200 days during. th'
wear. With enough cars and working
500 DAYS this year. it is estimated tha
the production will reach G50,OO0,OO'
tons.
The Senate Interstate commerce
committee continued its hearings 10
dav on legislation giving the govern
ment power to take over coal mines
! National prohibition. j. D. 4. MORROW
Of the Pittsburgh Coal Producers AS
sociation. told the committee Woul'
increase production and 20 far towart
relieving the present shortage itall
road representatives will be heard b!
the committee tomorrow.