Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-19
AGREEMENT MAY
HALT COALRI
Governor and Operators
Aim to Avert Probe
at Conference
LEGAL ACTION IS READY
Sproul Warns Force Will Be
Used if Necessary to
Prevent Boost

committee of anthracite coal
operators will discuss the coal price
situation with Governor Sprou at his
office in Harrisburg, tomorrow after
noon.
Announcement was made at the
Capitol today that the Governor, in re-
sponse to request from Alan {. Dodson.
of Bethlehem. secretary of the lnde-
pendent Opera tors Association, has ar
ranged for the meeting to be held at
2.30 o'clock.
Governor Sproul. in n communica-
tion to the operators association, makes
il rlain that he does not favor n legis-
lative invcstigatio into the situation,
because of the delays and other
mcunveniences. He is positive in his
declaration that unless the Oper-
ators recede from their position and
hold back their proposed price increases
of fifty cents n ton on MAY |. an eN.
haustiVe investigation that will go to the
bottom Of the entire situation Will be
pushed to the limit.
Commission Suggested
Attorney General SChaffcr has com.
pIeted the plans necessary for the state
to 60 ahead with the work Of learning
conditions among the miners and mining
Governor %proul.
If possible. the Governor says he will
avoid the delay of a legislative nvesti-
CATION by getting the operators to agree
to withhold the proposed increases.
Correspondence between the Governor
ana Mr.. Dodson has been made public.
The association says it welcomes an in
vcstigation.
The Governor in his reply said:
"YOur very instructive letter of the
18th inst is at hand. and the nforma.
ton you give and also your expression
of a desire TO cooperate in an inquiry
as TO the cost of anthracite coal are
appreciated
"Since we have taken up the general
question of the cost of anthracite coal
so many collateral questions. involving
the same general subject have been
brought up, that 1t seems that a very
thorough and far-reaching inquiry by
The state would be in order. or course,
we are vitality interested in Pennsylvania
in all of the questions affecting the an
thracite industry; 1t is peculiarly n Penn
sylvania institution, and its problems are
our problems.
we are interested that the wages
paid the miners shall be maintained at
n standard commensurate with the skill
and the pcrilS related to the work we
are Interested in tho protection of the
market for anthracite against the in
Creasing uses Of other fuels; and We are
interested in the progress and prosperity
Of the industry as represented by the
capital and enterprise devoted to il.
"Other questions of importance to us
here in Pennsylvania are those relating
to surface support and the danger which
threatens some of our communities: the
proper inspection Of coal to prevent its
adulteration with slate and other i'm
purities. and the problems of state and
local taxation of coal as mined and coal
in the ground. The complaints against
the impurities in coal have become more
and more numerous, and suggestions
have come from other states and from
federal authorities that some action
should be taken by this state to correct
what is represented as an imposition upon
the consumers. Possibly this has been
years more than any intent to defraud,
but it is. nevertheless, matter re-
Qurng attention.
Attorney General Prepared
"The whole matter is so important and
covers SO much ground that it would
geem that probably the most effective
way to reach a solution would be to pro-
vide for the appointment Of commits
sion. clothed with all the powers that the
state. through its Legislature. may give.
aided by expert advisers and under the
most competent legal direction. to
thoroughly look into all the factors in
VOWED and to make complete report.
Meanwhile. our immediate interest
is that if possible the people may, be
spared an increase in the crst Of Their
necessary fuel. at time VIXEN every
agency of the state and national gov,
ernment and every effort of far-seelns
people are being given toward a reduc.
ton of living costs and stabiiizing o,
! social conditions in the country, II q
way could be found to prevent, or ever
to defer. the proposed increase in Goa
prices until such an investigations has
been made as will merely show the peo
pIe that such an increase is justified. u
! II can be justified. n great deal viii have
been accomplished along lines which arr
essentially patriotic. and for the public
welfare"
Coal operators met yesterday after
noon in the Bellevue-Stratford where
it was reported, plan was discussed
for abandoning the decision to increas
the price of coal ten cents ton. Th
threatened investigation by Legislative
! con mittee, it was rumored, ha,
prompted the operators to reconside
the threatened rise.