The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-08-22

Washington. Aug. 17.-Government
control Of the coal industry appeared
imminent today when President Will
son turned his personal attention to
he subject and heard the mine oper-
ators and miners presentation of the
situation. The interests of the public
now will be presented by the federal
trade commission which has just
completed It's investigation of coal
production cost.
Provisions Of the food control '>ill
gives the president power to fix coal
prices from the mine to the consum-
er and investing In him authority to
requisitiOn all coal produced and sell
1t to the public are expected to be
put into operation almost immediate
ly.
Tho trade commissions report IL
was learned tonight, will say that at
present prices coal operators. jobbers
and retailers are reaping exorbitant
profits. and that inequitabie distribu-
tion Is adding 10 the costs in many
parts Of the country.
Operators and miners who oppose
government price fixing in the fear
that prices will be pushed down to
too low a level put their case before
the president today through Frances
Peabody, chairman of the coal
production committee of the council
of national defense. and John p.
White. president Of the United Mine
Workers Of America. Their idea of
solution Of the situation as ex-
pressed to the president is that
voluntary arrangement be made be-
tween operators. miners and the gov
ernment and that no move be made
toward enforcement of the drastic
provisions of the food bill.
The coal situation. according to of.
fcials who have studied the subject,
la In q more chaotic state now than
at any time. Miners throughout tn
country are threatening to strike un
less their wages are raised.
Prices are soaring despite tn
agreement made recently between
government heads and the operators
and many sections Of the countr'
face a winter with scanty supple.
OF fuel.
The program. many officials believe
President Wilson Is most likely tc
adopt under the power to control tn,
industry. would provide that the gov.
ernment commanders all coal pro
duced dividing the country into dis
tricts and fixing a maximum price 70.
each district. Under this plan ther.
would be IL or IL districts and ir
each district q price would be ret
based on an average cost Of produc.
tion plus q definite percentage OF
profits. The districts output would
be pooled and in this way every op
orator would get the same percent
age of profit whatever might be hi
cost of production. Six States pro.
duce about IS per cent. OF country.
total Of bitumnous. Since there are
altogether 26 coal producing States
some districts would include severa
States. The aim would be to form
the districts SO production costs 1,
each would vary but little.
This plan would mean that tn
trade commission, or whatever
agency the president selects to ad
minister provisions Of the law, woult
direct distribution by districts.
Evidences that the country
growing restive under continued hiG'
prices were seen by officials today ir
the demand by representatives of 1e
State councils Of defense meeting i,
Chicago that the government take
immediate action.
One element that is giving official.
here most concern is the evident I'm
tention OF labor to force immediat.
wage increases
Operators blame the unequal dis
tribution Of coal on the railroads
which. they say. are not distributing
cars promptly.