Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-08-23
President Wilson Visits Fed
eral Trade Commission Of
tices and Goes Carefully
Over Reports.
STEEL PRESENTS MORE
DIFFICULT PROBLEMS
Fuel of Country Is to Be Reg
uIated From Producer to
Consumer; Threat of Shut
ting Down Doesn't Bother,

10y soss'na JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wisst
washington, Aug. 22.--At three.
hour conference with the federal
trade commission today, President
wilson took up the whole subject of
war prices and went over in detail
the commissions figures on produce
ton costs. Most OF the time was Civ
en- TO study of the commissions re-
port just completed on the cost of
producing steel.
Further measures to control the
coal industry came in for discussion
and 1t was learned that last nights
order fixing prices for coal for the
entire country will be followed by
others designed to give the govern
hient complete control OF the in
dustry, from mine to consumer.
Goes Over Reports Carefully.
The president went to the trade
commission offices at O'clock and
remained until s. He found Commits
sioners Davies and Colver there and
the conference began. Before it had
gone far the commissioners called in
Secretary Bracken and experts who
have handled the cost accounting
work. Together they explained to the
tpresldent details of reports on coal,
steel, copper and other basic ma
terials and outlined the work accom-
plished in getting production costs on
q number of materials In which in
Nestigatlons nave not been com
pleted.
| For several days now the president
has given his attention almost en-
tiiely to the work of the trade conf
mission. Officials with whom he has
consulted are of the opinion that a
definite price policy will be formulat-
ed soon Coal probably will be finally
disposed of first and steel next.
Steel Problem Difficult.
The trade commissions steel inves-
tigation revealed that it will be almost
impossible'to fix price for Steel as
was done in the case OF coal. Varying
costs in different plants make it i'm
practicable, II is said, to make flat
price. and, too, costs are continually
changing. The plan most favored by
trade commission members is one un-
der which the government would de-
termine the cost of producing definite
orders and would pay fair percent
age of profit on each order.
The chief disadvantage of this is
that 1t provides no plan for protect
ing the general public in its pur-
chases, and protection of the public,
the president has emphasized, is one
of the chief aims of the administra-
tion in enforcing reduction in prices
The administration, however. is un-
derstood to be standing behind the
Pomerene bill, pending in congress.
which would give the government vir-
tually the same powers in fixing prices
on steel and other materials as it
now has in the case of coal.
More Regulation Ahead.
To extend the governments con-
troll over coal, the president has yet
to fix bituminous wholesale and re-
tail prices and must issue regulations
governing distribution and apportion-
ment as between different parts of
the country. Anthracite too, 1t is un-
derstood, will be taken up and prices
fixed throughout the industry. AT
present anthracite prices at the mines
are kept down under voluntary ar
rangement reached some months ago
by the producers with the federal
trade commission, but no way has
been adopted for dealing with whole
salers and retailers.
Extension of coal control will bring
with it, it is understood. the appoint
ment of a coal administrator, whose
relation to the coal industry will be
about the same as that Of Herbert
Hoover to the production and distri-
button of foods. So far the name Of
H. A. Garfield, president of Williams
college. is the only one that has been
mentioned for the place.
Operators Get Busy.
The executive committee of the
national operators association after
meeting of bituminous coal operat-
ors at Pittsburgh, Pa, for next We'd
nesday to discuss their situation.
Reports tonight that operators in
some districts were complaining that
the mines cannot be operated at the
prices fixed-by the president. caused
officials little concern. II was point
ed out that the clause in the food
control bill giving the executive the
power to fix prices carries provis-
ion authorizing the government To
take over and operate mines which
fail to adhere to the prices named or
which decline to abide by regulations
the president may issue demanding
full nroductiOn