New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-08-25
GARFIELD TO CUT
COST OF HARD COAL
Administrator Will Make Every
Effort to Bring Price Down


announced that he would imme-
diately take steps to reduce the price
of anthra cite coal to the consumer.
The licensing system to be applied to
mine owners and jobbers may be ex-
tended to retailers, DR.. Garfield stated.
The Federal Trade commission, he
said. is already preparing schedule IF
profits which the government will per-
nit retailers to make. This schedule.
which will vary for different sections
of the country. on account of con-
ditions latter being approved by the
president and the coal administration,
DR.. Garfield said, will be enforced with
a firm hand.
1t is impossible to predict just how
much of reduction in prices the
governments coal control program
will bring. DR.. Garfield said but 1T is
fairly certain that the reduction in the
price of both anthracite and bitumi-
nous coal will be considerable. In the
anthracite retail trade, he believes
overhead charges can be reduced APP
probably, with a resultant benefit to
the consumer.
It was made plain by the coal adj
ministration that the closest scrutiny
would be made of all existing coal con-
tracts and those negotiated before Sep
CemDor l., Wn0n Tie pIeSiuSll PIlSC-
fixing order becomes effective. Any
attempt to thwart the governments
fuel control program through fake
sales will mean that the dealers guilty
will be eliminated from the trade, it
was stated.
1t is probable, it was said, that DIR.
Garfield will organize governmental
machinery to take over the entire coal
output, so that in the event any one
mine or group of mines fails to abide
by the presidents regulations the
coal administration will be able to pro-
coed against them.
Labor Troubles Anticipated.
The labor phases Of the coal situa-
ton are considered potential danger
spots. 1t was pointed out that if OPP
orators declined to pay current wages
under the new prices serious labor
disturbances might result. An effort
will be made to meet this possibility
through the negotiation of voluntary
agreem ents between the operators and
miners.
Replying to dealers who predicted
that the action of the president IN
fixing prices at the mine and regu-
lating jobbers would not bring about
any appreciable benefit to the pup
lie, DR.. Garfield said:
IF there is any one who thinks that
the effort of reduction in prices is to
be limited to the operator and lop-
Dor he is very much mistaken. pc
lieve that a considerable reduction to
the consumer can be made without
undue hardship to the industry, and
I shall feel very much disappointed
in my work if that end is not &C
complished.
net CT
conditions faced, and reductions eff
fected must extend all the way from
the mine to the household.
II believe this can be done without
too great hardship to any operator.
iobber or dealer, with the possible
exception of those who are inefficient.
In an emergency like this ineff1ciency
cannot hope to stand in the way Of
the country's welfare.
THE coal administration as the
agent of the government will not hes
itate to take drastic action II that IS
considered necessary. One thing Is
certain-there will be no weakening
of policy in the general campaign to
accomplish the general relief de-
manded. Every possible remedy in
the food control bill will be studied
carefully and we will be ready to
nut any one of them which is applic-
able to the situation in force
II believe he continued, that the
big dealers and the efficient little
dealers will be able to meet the con-
ditions and realize fair profit on
their investments. These dealers will
be supplied with the coal they need at
the price which the government be-
Heves will make it possible for them
to meet all conditions imposed.
"The public, am firmly convinced,
will get its coal at all the scale thus
fixed The consumer will know the
price and naturally will go for his
coal to dealers who have the supply
and are willing to sell at the figures
thus established