Bisbee daily review., 1917-08-23
PRICE POLICY .0FPRES|DENT MAY SOON BE
 |NAUGURATED
President Confers With Fed eral Trade Commissioners. Coal Dictator May Be Ap- pointed Under Recently Passed Laws.
(By Review Leased Wire).

 vvR ASHINGTON, Aug. 22.-At a " three-hour conference with the " federal trade commission today
 President Wilson took up the whole subject of war prices and went over in detail the commissions figures of production costs. Most of the time was given to a study of the commis- sions report just completed on the cost of producing steel.
 Coal Industry Handled
 Further measures to control the coal industry came in for discussion and it was learned that last nights or der fixing prices for coal for the entire country would be followed by others designed to give the government a complete control of the industry, from mine to consumer
 The president went to the trade con- mission offices at o'clock and remain ed until 6. He found Commissioners Davies and Colver there and the con ference began.
 Details Explained
 Before it had gone far the commis- sioners called in Secretary Brackel and experts who have handled the cost accounting york. Together they ex- plained to the president details of re- ports on coal. steel. copper and other basic materials, and outlined the work accomplished in getting production costs on a number of materials on which investigations haxe not been completed
 Steel Next in Line
 For several days now the president has given his attention almost entirely to the work of the trade commission. Officials with whom he has consulted are of the opinion that definite price policy will be formulated soon. Coal probably will be finally disposed of first and steel next.
 The trade commissions steel inves- tigation revealed that it will be impos- sible to fix a price for steel as was done in the case of coal. Varying costs in different plants make il impractie- able. it is said. to make fiat price and too. costs are continually changing.
 Regulations to Be Fixed
 To extend the governments control over coal. the president has yet to fix bituminous wholesale and retail prices and must issue regulations governing distribution and apportionment as be- tween different parts of the country. Anthracite. too. it is understood. vii be taken up and prices fixed through out the industry. At present anthr,- cite prices at the mines are kept dow n under a voluntary arrangement reach- cd some montIs ago by the producers with the federal trade commission, but no way has been adopted for deal ing with wholesalers and retailers.
 Coal Administration
 Extension of coal control will bring with it, it is understood. the appoint ment of a coal administrator. whose relation to the coal industry will be about the same as that of Herbert Hoover to the production and distribu- tion of foods. So far the name of H. A. Garfield. president of the Williams NOhCScs lS llc OniS illtl iidl iloS DCcu mentioned for the place.
 Coal Operators n-t Meet
 The executive committee of the na- tional coal operators association aft CT an allday meeting here today. call ed meeting of bituminous coal op- orators at Pittsburg, Pa. for next Wednesday. to discuss their situation.
 Operators Complain
 Reports tonight that operators in some districts were complaining that the mines cannot be operated at the prices fixed by the president caused of. ticials little concern. It was pointed out that clause in the food control bill giving the executive the power to fix prices carries a provision authorizing the government to take over and ope- rate mines which fail to adhere to the prices named or which decline to abide by regulations the president may issue demanding full production. COAL MINERS WONDER
 HOW DECISION WILL WORK