Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-06-29
CONFERENCE Of 400
OPERATORS ASSENTS
TOU. S. FIXING PRICE
Authorizes Committees to "As-
sent to Such Maximum
Prices as May Be Fixed for
Coal on Cars at Mines"

WASHINGTON, June 2s-An i'm
mediate general reduction in the price
| OF coal at the mine was agreed unon
here today by representatives of tn.
coal operators.
Thls reduction is expected to be fols
lowed by still further decreases in price
after investigation into the cost of MINI
ing coal and it is probable that the gov.
eminent Will be given still lower price
! than that to the general public. Hum
areas or millions of dollars will be saved
TO the American people through this de.
| cision.
Inc operators agreed to the tmnoe,
ulate reduction in the price of coal ar
meeting hero today, after adontine \
resolution by which coal prices would
be liked with the aid and approval Of
the secretary of the interior, the fed
eral trade commission and the com
nittee on coal production of the ma
tional defense council
About 600,00O,00O tons of coal vara
mined In this country last year and
secretary Lane, who has earnestlvs
urged reduction, believes that the
saving TO the American people will he
enormous. After hearing of the oper-
s action Mr.. Lane wrote the fol-
/ hai
man of the coal production comr15ttaa
VINO has been in constant confarance
with the operators:
l nave Just learned of the action of
the coal operators and I wish 70 az,
press my appreciation of the genero,,s
prompt and patriotic manner i'm which
they nave acted. They have dealt with
ne ne Sutu1Clon In the way that 1 had
hoped they would, as large men dealing
with large question. They nanifast11,
see that this is no time in which tn COW
slider primarily the opportunities which
the war gives for personal agsrandiza-
ment We must gain for each bv gain.
ing Tor all. The country is in a mood
for sacrifice. 1t is intent upon tbe 60
cess of the war and is willing tn do
everything needed to give insurance to
the world against repetition Of this
awful condition. =.
OPERATORS PRAISED.
VIII You not be good enough to ex-
press to the coal men my appreciation
OF the spirit they have shown in de-
termining that their prices shall be re-
duced so that the industries of the coun-
try may not feel hampered, and the
people may not feel that their spirit is
broken down by the thought that this
is to be a war for individual advantage
instead of self-protection? 1 felt from
the moment of my talk to them that
the high purpose to yield personal de-
sire for general good than did they.
Now 1 trust that we shall Immediately
put into concrete form the spirit of
your resolution"
The conference of 400 operators, rep
resenting all coal producing states. took
quick action today toward lowering
coal prices by adopting resolutions au-
thorizing their committees ito give as.
sent to such maximum prices for coal
on board cars at mines in various dis
tricts as may be named by the secretary
of interior, federal trade commission and
the council of national defense's coal
production committee"
Plans were Immediately agreed upon
for announcement later today of tenta-
tive fair and reasonable prices based
On suggestions from the operators, to
be effective July 1.
The resolution giving assent" to fix
ing of maximum prices was reported by
former Governor Fort, from a special
committee. He said he believed the
resolution entirely safe for the
conference to adopt and that any re-
sponsibility as to the legality Of the
fixing of the prices was put on, the
government, land not on the operators"
under the terms of the resolution. The
resolution after pointing that a great
national emergency now exists in the
nations fuel supply and that the coal
operator and miners desire to closely
cooperate with the government reads:
Resolved, That it is the sense of this
meeting that committee of seven for
each coal-producing state and an addi-
tional committee of seven, appointed by =
the representatives of the anthracite in
dustry, be appointed by the representa-
tives of each state now attending this
convention. to confer with the secretary
of the interior, the federal trade COM
mission and the committee on coal pro-
duction of the Council Of National De-
tense, to the emo that production be
stimulated and plans be perfected TO
provide adequate means Of distribution,
and further, that these committees re-
port forthwith to the secretary of the
interior, the federal trade commission
and the committee on coal production
of the Council of National Defense costs
Of and conditions surrounding the pro-
duction and distribution of coal in each
district, and that these committees are
authorized, in their discretion, to giva
assent to such maximum prices for coal
+ o. b. cars a mines in the various dis
tricts as may be named by the secretary
of the interior, the federal trade COM
mission and the committee on coal pro-
duction Of the Council of National De-
Tense.
The resolution was unanimously
adopted. 1t was a revision of a former
resolution recalled because of fear tina:
question might be raised as to the legal
ity of the operators agreeing upon q
price, even though at the instance of
the government, Attorney General Greg
DRY having sent word that r. Cotton
Lewis. special assistant attorney gener-
al, who had been comforting with the OPP
orators, had no right or authority 10
outline what the governments policy
might be under the antitrust laws in
connection with price fixing.
AS soon as this resolution was agreed
to, another one was presented under
which 1t was proposed that the govern
ment authorize the government repre-
sentatives named in the resolution to is
sue a statement forthwith fixing a tenta-
tive price which in their judgment shall
be a fair and reasonable one for the
various districts, and to be effective July