Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-18
FEDERAL CONTROL
OF COAL INDUSTRY
SEEMS IMMINENT
President Wilson Turns His
Personal Attention
to Situation.
HEARS BOTH OPERATORS
AND MINERS ON SUBJECT
Trade Commission Ready to Re-
port That Exor bitant Profits
Are Being Reaped.
COUNTRY GROWING REsTIVE
Many Sections Of United States Face
Winter With Scanty Sup.
plies Of Fuel.
HEARS BOTH OPERATORS
AND MINERS ON SUBJECT
COUNTRY GROWING REsT1vH
Many Sections Of United States Face
Winter With Scanty Sup.
plies Of Fuel.
fByjAssoc,a,.dp,ess, /,

WASHINGTON, August 17.-Govern-
ment control OF the coal industry ap-
peared imminent to-day when Presi-
dent Wilson turned his personal at,en-
tion to the subject and heard the mino
operators and miners presentation OF
the situation. The interests of the
public now will be presented by the
Federal Trade Commission. which has
just completed Its investigations of
coal production costs.
Provisions OF the food control bill
giving the President power to fix coal
prices from the mine to the consumer.
and investing in him authority to
rcquisition all coal produced and sell
1t TO tho public. are expected to be put
into operation almost Immediately.
The Trade Commissions report, II
was learned tonight. will say that at
present prices. coal operators. jobbcrs
and retailers are reaping exorbitant
profits. and that inequitab BILE distribu-
ton is adding to the costs In many
parts of the country
OPERATORS AND MINERS
PRESENT THEIR SIZES
Operators and miners who oppose
government price-fxing, in the fear
that prices Will be pushed down to too
low level. put their case before the
President to-day through Francis S.
Peabody. chairman of the coal produce
tion committee of the Council OF Ma
tional Defense, and John P. White,
president of the United Mine Workers
OF America. Their idea of a solution
OF the situation. as expressed to the
President, Is that voluntary arrange
ment be made between operators.
miners and the government. and that
no move be mnde towards enforcement
of the drastic provisions of the food
bill.
The coal situation. according t. ofn-
ciais who have studied he subject Is
III a moro chaotic state now than II
has been at any time. Miners through
out the country are threatening to
strike unless their wages are raised
10 give them share of the enormous
profits made. Prices are soaring, de-
spite the agreement made recently be-
tween government heads and the opera
tors. and many sections OF the country
face a winter with scanty supplies OF
fuel.
NAY Co,IMANpEER
ALL COAL PRODUCED
The program. many officials believe.
President Wilson is most likely to adopt
under the power to control the indus
try would provide that the government
commander all coal produced. dividing
the country into districts and fixing a
maximum price for each district. Under
this plan there would be from seven
to twelve districts, and In each district
price would be SET based on an aver
age cost OF production plus a definite
percentage of profit. The districts out
put would be pooled. and in this way
every operator would get the same per-
centage of profit, whatever might be
his cost of production.
Evidences that the country is grow
ing restive under continued high prices
we're seen by officials to-day In the
demand by representatives of thirteen
State Councils OF Defense, meeting in
Chicago. that the government take i'm
mediate action. Governors of some OF
the Middle Western States are urging
State action to relieve the situation un-
less the Federal government moves
quickly.
INTENTION OF LABOR
GIVES OFFICIALS CONCERN
One element giving officials here most
concern is the evident intention of labor
to force immediate wage increases.
Members of the Trade Commission. 1t
is understood, believe the prices to be
determined for coal should give wide
margin Of profit to insure labor fair
wage.
Operators blame the unequal dIstri-
button OF coal on the railroads. which,
they say are not distributing cars
promptly. This difficulty. officials be-
lieve. will be overcome by proper adj
ministration of the new law giving the
Interstate Commerce Commission wider
power I'm placing cars and in directing
their movements.