The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-28
Tentative Cut Goes Into Effect
on July 1.
Operators Readily Agree To
Cooperate With Govt.
400 MINE OWNERS AT MEET
Fear Agreement Among Selves
Would Be Violation.
So Consent To Accept Whatever
Price Govt Sets.

Washington, June 2S.-An imme-
date general reduction of 81 to $3.50
a ton in the price of coal at the mine
was agreed upon here today by rep
resentatives of the coal operators.
This reduction is expected to be
followed by still further decreases in
price after investigation into the costs
of mining coal and it is probable that
the government will be given a still
lower price than that to the general
public. Hundreds of millions of dol
lars will be saved 20 the American
people thru this decision.
Creation of a national association of
coal operators, with "A central bureau
at Washington for standardiZing sta
tistical and other information relating
to coal production marketing and 9TH
er matters was agreed to by the con-
ference. 1t was to be made up by
various state and district coal asso-
Citations and will serve as an inter-
mediary for information between the
coal operators and the government.
The conference finally adjourned
and the various state delegations went
into separate meetings. to frame sug
Eestions as to prices to be submitted
later to Chairman Peabody.
All Coal States Represented.
Washington, June 2S.-The confer
ence Of 400 operators, representing all
coal producing states. took quick ac-
ton today toward lowering coal prices
by adopting a resolution authorizing
their committees ITO give assent to
such maximum prices for coal free on
board" cars at mines in the various
districts as may be named by the sec
rotary of the interior, federal trade
commission and the council of nation
al coal production committee.
Plans were agreed on for announce
ment later today of tentative fair
and reasonable" prices based on sug-
sestions from the operators to be eff
fectve July 1.
The resolution giving assent to
fixing of maximum prices was report
ed by former Governor Fort, from a
special committee. He said he be-
Ieved the resolution was entirely safe
for the conference to adopt, and that
any responsibility as to the legality OF
the fixing of prices was put on the
government and not the operators un-
der the terms of the resolution. The
resolution points out that a great
emergency now exists in the nation S
fuel supply and that the coal opera
tors and miners desire to cooperate
with the government.
All Vote for Resolution.
The resolution was unanimously
adopted. 1t was n revision of for
rner resolution recalled because OF
fear that questions might be raised as
to the legality of the operators agree
ing upon a price. even tho at me IN
stance of the government Attorney
General Gregory having sent wore
that r. Cotton Lewis. special assistant
attorney general, who had been con
ferring with the operators, had nc
right or authority to outline what the
governments policy might be undol
the antitrust laws in connection witt
pIice fixing.
As soon as this resolution wa
agreed to. another one was presented
under which it was proposed that thu
government authorize the government
representatives named in the resolu
ton to issue statement forthwith
fixing a tentative price which in theil
judgment shall be a fair and reason
able one for the various districts anC
to be effective from July 1 until thu
committee shall fix a permanent price
Doesn't Affect Foreign Trade.
Secretary Lane sent the conference
a letter asking immediate action in re
ducing the prices. the tentative price
to continue until the investigation int
costs and conditions warranted an in
crease or reduction. He suggeste
that the tentative fixing of price
should not affect present contracts o
export trade.