New-York tribune., 1919-10-31
Mr.. Wilson Tells Palmer
He'll Sign Order 20
Fix Maximum Price
and Punish Profiteers
Garfield Placed i'm
Charge as Director
Government VIII Prose
cute Operators if They
Try TO Restrict Output
Neio York Tribune
Woshgugt0n Rursrn

Neio York Tribune
Washington Bure1u
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30-S Seven i'm
portant developments marked the day
in the governments plan TO combat.
the strike Of more than 100000 mem
bers Of the United Mine Workers set t.
begin tomorrow midnight. They were
I. IN . fifteen minute conference
with Attorney General A Mitchell
Palmer Pres ident Wilson approved
the course his Cabinet has pursued
50 far and made several suggestions
for It's future guidance. The sug-
geStlons were not disclosed
?. NJ. Palmer said The govern
mcnt would prosecute the bitun,-
nous coal operators Of the country If
they consD red TO restrict the p~o
duction Of coal and violate the Lever
act. which the miners already arc
accused by tie Administration o.
having violated
8. General Wood ordered bat
talon OF troops sent from Camp
Taylor, Kentucky. To the West Nlr.
glnla coal fields, whore Governor
Cornweu was expecting trouble. Coy
ernment officials refused to ss,
whether this was the beginning Of y
general troop movement, but pointed
out that under recent orders com.
manders Of military departments may
act without getting permission from
Washington. 1t was learned, bow
ever, that the War Department j.
preparing maps of the mine field
IN fifteen districts
4. The Senate adopted a concurren.
resolution pledging the Administrl-
ton It's continuous and unqualified
support IN the use OF such constitu-
tional and lawful means az NAV be
necessary TO meet the present indu.
trial emergency" Only one vote wa
cast against il, that Of Senator Fai'
of New Mexico.
Hines to Confiscate Coal
5. Director General Hines Of tha
railroad administration prepared Tie
railroads of the country to meet III.
strike by ordering his regional d.
rectors to accumulate reserve stock.
and conhscate coal in transit il
necessary 70 carry out his instruc
tlons.
6. Fuel Administrator Garfield Is
placed in charge of the handling o.
coal and the government goes back
to the wartime plan Of fixing 2
maximum price and assessing heay1
penalties for profiteering and hoard.
ing.
T.. Secretary Baker announced at his
conference with ncwspapermen thai
# the Department of Justice request
them, troops viii be ready to protec+
men working in mines.
Another evidence of the determine
ton of the government to make full u.
OF It's lawful powers was the sending G;
Judge {. S. Ames, assistant to the 4.
torney General, to indianapolis 10 tax.
charge of the governments fight =,
prevent the closing of the coal mine
Judge Ames, VINO mas been in charge u.
antitrust suits and the enforcement o.
me Lever law, VIII take the in4tiatis.
whenever the Administration decide
TO invoke the power OF the courts.
1t is believed here that Judge Anne.
wlll apply to the Federal Court in Ind
annapolis tomorrow for temporary re
stralnlng order TO stay the strike orGe,.
through such action, followed by al
injunction, the government could ser.
ously interfere with the plans Of the
strikers, although it could not prever.
the men from quitting work That the
government might move in this Va,
was indicated to day by Attorney Ger
eral Palmer in remark TO the oro,.
.
ma! statute without a criminal pros.
cution.
Discussed by Cabinet
The Cabinet discussed tho s;,ua,,,.
Tor more than two hours with Mr. Hlnc.
and Dr.. Harry Garfield. The who.
held was gone over, but there was p.
word from the leaders OF the miners
10 indicate that there was any inter
tlon on their part to cancel the stri,,
order. Confronted with tins situation,
1t was determined TO have the railroad
contiscate all coal IN transit Mr.. PA
mer was made spokesman for the meet
ing, and ne announced that, IN line wits
action agreed upon last night, an order
would be made restoring the maximum,
prices on coal which were in effect Feb
ruary l. 1919, when the order was sus-
pended and the fuel administrator,
went out Of business because Congress
failed TO give it more money on which
to operate.
DR.. Garfield at once began the prep
aration OF the necessary order lie
will make use of the organizations o.
the railroad administration and the
Department of the Interior for tho
present and not attempt to revive his
old organization. The necessary exec
utive order was completed tonight anc
Will be presented to the President ~.
morrow.
Dr. Garfield, in announcing his plans
said that. for the present. price control
over anthracite coal would not hc ex~
erciscd. Questions Of allocating cosl
he explained, viii be left TO the IL.
rector General of Railroads. who viii
act in the name of the Fuel Director
Curtailment of industries viii not be
resorted to ~ this time. but If nee
ossary the wartime curtailment list
vail be used as n basis of action. Ore
big difference In conditions, it ws,