The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1917-10-02
BLACK DIAMOND ADMINS.
TRAITOR DECLARES THAT
PRICES MUST DROP
Dealers Profits Too Big
He Ayers
Passes Matter Up to State Admin.
istrators to See That Consumers
Get Fairly Treated in Buying
Supplies.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2.-Retail coal
prices must drop. Dr. Harry A. Gar
field, coal administrator, meeting a
score of state fuel administrators here
today, gave this order. He warned
the state administrators that there
will be attempts upon the part of the
retail dealers to evade the order OF
October 1, reducing retail prices.
Figures were presented by DR.. Gar
field to show that the margin of prof
it, now demanded by dealers. is exorbi-
tant. He pointed out that even with
increased labor and production costs.
the retail price can be materially low
cred
Reports of the federal trade com
mission were presented showing that
coal costs in a score or more of the
leading cities are too great. These
| figures, as well as estimates drawn
by the fuel administration were care
fully discussed by the conference and
prices in individual states were tax
en- up
DR.. Garfield explained his plan for
an additional margin of profit of 80
per cent over the profits of 1915. He
declared that state administrators who
find that this plan will reduce coal
prices in their states to a consider
able extent and warned them that it
was their duty to see that the re-
ductions were made.
The coal situation in the northwest
was discussed at length. Dr. Gar
field declared that while the situa-
ton there at present seems critical
the order issued late last night stop
ping the shipment of coal to Canada
will meet the situation. He declared
that there is a daily shipment of 180,-
600 tons of coal from Lake ports. For
months most of this has been going
to Canadian ports. He stated that if
100000 tons are shipped daily to the
northwest from now until the close of
navigation the shortage in that sec
ton will be taken care of.
While the conference was going on
it appeared that the wage difficulty
in the central competitive area would
force the fuel administration to ad-
vance coal prices at the mine in that
region. Miners and operators in con-
ference here have reported a tentative
agreement as to a new wage schedule
with the proviso on the part of the
Operators that increased wages shall
be granted only if the fuel admins
tration permits an increase in prices
at the mines. DR.. Garfield has the
matter before him and is discussing it
with state fuel administrators from
the central area.
Tennessee and Kentucky labor trou-
bles are settled for the time being at
| least. A proposed basis of settlement
= of difficulties, set forth by the fuel
= administration was substantially rati-
fled by the operators at a conference
this morning. The agreement must
still be ratified by the miners, how
ever meeting at Knoxville, Tenn.
Thursday.
Herbert C. Hoover, food administra
tor. took a hand in the coal situation
today, when he addressed the state ad-
ministrators. He pointed out that the
food situation is largely dependent up
e on the coal situation and urged al
state administrators to use drastic
measures to bring coal prices down in
their territories