The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-07-03
Takes Hand i'm Controversy
Between Lane and Baker
Over Coal Prices
COAL MEN STICK TO
THREE DOLLAR PRICE
of Public If Investigators Find That
Undue Profits.

OUuue TTONCS.
WASHINGTON, July 3. - President
Wilson took over the coal price-fixing
controversy yesterday, and as result
the danger Of a serious split in the cab
met as TO the methods to be employed
in connection with coal and other com
moditics was averted for the time. There
were many important developments.
Among them were these:
Secretary Baker of the war depart
Ipartment of the interior, who had been
reported at loggerhcads because of the
letter written by Mr. Baker depudiating
i the station bituminous coal agreement
with the operators made by Mr. Lane.
i had luncheon together in public at the
Shoreham Hotel.
Mr.. Baker told the newspaper CORE
sp0ndents that There is no difference
of feeling between Secretary Lane and
imc.
The coal operators decided to stick by
their agreement and furnish bituminous
coal at the mouth of the mine to the
consuming public at So a ton, according
to the decision reached at conferences
between the operators, Secretary Lane,
aud Commissioner Fort of the federal
trade commission, despite whatever de
cision might he reached by the govern.
mcnt as TO the price il would pay for
such coal.
Chairman Peabody of the committee
on coal production of the council OF
, national defense, which co-operated
with Secretary Lane and Mr.. Fort il
arranging for the - bituminous Goa
price. with a reduction OF 30 cents a tor
for the government, will not resign Il,
at first predicted As a result Of tn,
action taken by the President he vii
remain in his present post and do al
in his power to bring about settlement
| of the dispute.
The day was one filed with excite
mcnt. so far as the pricc.hxing contro
vcrsv was concerned. 1t became known
r first. that Secretary Lane of the iITerio
department had had no intimation tina
: Secretary Baker of the war department
was to make public a letter repudiatin'
his efforts until that letter was in tn
hands of the ncwspapermcn. II wa
said. however, that President Wilson
ildu ltdt tdth WITH NIL Ifdhtt Rtibl
the letter was issued, and that he wa
in accord with his views as to the price
which the government should pay fo
coal and other commodities. Whethe
a. he knew that Mr.. Baker was about I
q send out a letter rcpudiating the agree
ment arranged by Mr.. Lane is anothe
question.
&c Secretary Baker made this statemen
I. l.,
they asked him about the controversy
so far as | know, there is no di1
ference Of feeling or purpose betwee
O. Secretary Lane and me III regard to til
: coal situation NV statement on tn
subject (thc letter sent to Director Gil
ford on Saturday nightj was to prcveI
what seemed to me a very liberal POI
ular misconception OF the whole stu;
ton.
Mr.. Baker said that no price was b.
ing fixed, and that none could be tiXc
until some governmental agency W;
authorized to do it, and that at II
present time no such authorization Ia
been given.
The developments Yesterday were la
en- as an indication that President WI
son was more or less in accord with Sc
rotary Baker and Secretary Daniels
their efforts to obtain prices for Il
:. government at a lower figure thu
H that quoted by the operators in the
II agreement. In this arrangement, no,
II ever. it is known that the Preside
II and his cabinet have no intention
II remaining at the mercy Of the operate,
II The President, it was said, was
II n frame of mind to stand firmly for t
II interests of the public as well as t
II government if Investigations OF the fe
II eral trade commission showed that CO
II operators and other producers are {
II tanning undue profits.