East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-08-05
COAL FAMINE PRO
CONGRESS
Cars Declared Inadequate,
Shortage Means Loss to
Miners, Mills, Business.
PRESIDENT, CABINET
ATTACKING PROBLEM
High Prices Not Believed to
be Entirely From Natural
Economic Causes.


WASHINGTON, Aug. 5-"Certified
definite sugeestions'' for cutting living
costs have been prepared for submis-
sion by President Wilson late this aft
ernoon, Attorney General Palmer an-
nounced at the conclusion of % con-
ference OF nearly four hours between
cabinet members and government Of
ficiaIs. The suggestions involve some
legislation.
Palmer would give no ini<ling of
what the new suggestions arc. It IL
assumed they concern the prosecu-
tion OF food profittecrs due to the
presence OF G. w. Ames. Palmer's
assistant In charge OF antitrust leg
isIation OF the administration food
and fuel act The presence of julius
Barnes. head OF the United States
grain corporation Is taken 10 mean
that reduction OF wheat prices was
discussed.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 5.-Danger
of coal famine has added itself to the
complications which congress faces
In the railroad and high cost of liv-
ing problems. Senators Hitchcock
and Pomerene, today declared the
fuel problem is rapidly becoming |
grave.
They pointed out that It has such |
a direct bearing on the cost of Iivine |
that II must. IL possible be settled be-
fore autumn.
Coal men In Ohio and Virginia in
formed me-" said Pomerene. that
they cannot get cars. One man wrote
to me that the entire output of his
mines this year is contracted for ana
he has plenty of labor but is unable
TO get cars. If this situation does
not change. miners will be out OF
work. mills will be closed, business
will stagnate and terrible suffering
will result
Hitchcock said he fears the coal
problem is only one OF a number OF
domestic questions that will soon
add themselves to the worries of
congress- He predicted a movement
for naturalization of both mines and
railroads, such as has developed in
England. elD
President. cabinet Mcet.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 5.--Prcsident
Wilson and the cabinet met today in
an effort to devise a means of cutting
living costs. Both the president and
his advisers, Il is learned. consider
speedy action imperative, in view of
the nationwide clemor for relief, and
SO are laboring to force early inn
provement i'm the situation. Bread,
the department CT labor reports. sells
for nine to ten cents pound in most
cities 1t is argued that IL this price
can be cut to five or six cents, other
foods will drop in sympathy.
Consider Price Fixing.
The president Is giving serious
consideration to the revival of price
fixing and profit limiting functions
of the food administration and war
Industries board now imperative for
lack of funds--although the laws
which enabled them to operate are
still on the statute books.
Figures Available.
The federal trade commission has
production figures on thirty billion
dollars worth of commodities. in.
cluding bread. flour, canned goods
and other foods. These figures were
used by the government in price linn |
fling during the war and will form
the basis of any action growing out
of the present agitation, according to
officials.
The president 1t was learned, hopes
to present definite recommendations
within a few days. When laws may
be asked from congress, where exist |
ing legislation is considered inade-
quate.
Not Entirely Natural.
The president. according to his adj
visers, feels that natural economict
laws are responsible for the high
prices In part only. He believes. they
Continued on page SIKH