Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-16
Retail PRICES OF COAL
TO Be CUT BY GARFIELD
Will Be Fixed for Every Commu-
nifty in Country, Possibly Within
Next Two Weeks.
CARE FOR SMALL CONSUMERS
supplies Are to Be Requisitioned at
Mines and Sale Directed Through
Local Dealers at Figures Deter
mined by Government Agencies.
tBy Associated Press.J

WASHINGTON. September 16.-Plans
for taking care OF tho small con-
sumer's coal needs this winter by
requisitioning so-called spot coal at
the mines and directing it's sale
through local dealers ut government
fixed prices were disclosed tonight by
DR.. Garfield, the fuel administrators.
Tho first move under this arrange
ment. DR.. Garfield explained, willg Be
| to ascertain through State fuel adT,tn-
istrators, soon to be named, tho exact
requirements of each State above tho
! amounts that have been contracted for.
These will be assembled and the total
supply required will be apportioncd
among tho country's mines Operators
Will be required to trim their contracts
enough to enable them to supply the
necessary amount Of spot coal.
The amount OF tbs probable de-
fciency in coal in each State will be
ascertained by State administrators
through local committees. which also
will be charged with distributing the
coal when obtained. The coal will be
handled through regular dealers. but
the committees will SEQ that 1t Is ap-
portioned properly.
GENERAL READJUSTMENT
TO BE RECOMMENDED
A general readjustment Of mine
prices fixed recently by President
Wilson will be recommended by DR..
Garfield within the next few weeks.
1t is regarded rs likely that many OF
tho prices based on cost OF production
figures furnished by the Federal
Trado Commission. will be increased
slightly.
Retail prices will be fixed for every
community in the country. possibly
within two weeks. The prices Will be
tentative, and will remain in force
until final prices are fixed on the rec
concentrations OF tho local coal COM
mittees. The new retail prices. DIR.
Garfield said to-day. Will represent
considerable reduction in costs to the
consumer.
Jobbers and retailers, under the re-
tail price-fixing plan. stand to lose
money on any coal they may have
purchased and stored at the high
prices that have prevailed. and one
reason for delaying the fixing OF re-
tail prices. DR.. Garfield said to-day,
was to give them an opportunity to
get rid OF their stocks.
TO ENFORCE REGULATIONS
By ISSUING LICENSES
To enforce regulations to be drawn
up. DR.. Garfield intends to license, not
only coal producers. but jobbers and
retailers as we'll.
",rhe greatest problem facing u.s."
said DR.. Garfield tonight. sis to get
out Of the ground all the coal we pos
sibly can to supply ourselves and those
countries depending on us for fuel
Canada takes much coal from us, and
must be supplied. but we cannot per-
NIT an unequal distribution. and must
see that she receives only her fair
share"
In distributing the spot coal reaui-
sitioned, DR.. Garfield will call in the
director Of priority Of shipment and
the Interstate Commerce Commission.
that 1t may be moved by the shortest
routes.
MY advice to the consumer" said
DR.. Garfield, lis that he purchase what
coal he needs now. despite the high
retail prices, but that he purchase no
moro than he actually needs. 1 would
not adfiso him to store any coal at
,he present prices. because prices
pronably Will be brought down."
The labor situation in mines is riv.
Ing the fuel administration conslder-
aoie pneasiness. The miners in manv
fields are demanding higher wages
which operators decline to pay on the
ground that tho government f,xed
prices tor coal will not permit any
increased cost of production.
Il oc,I SIa..I.-
IanSsis IsaHs asbnaDd Stn Southern Railway system
may be oesnpled DanviIie until 7:so aSp WSp
Spsn s,rsna HsingyiIis si.yiss n, leaye $40 A. AZ and