The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1919-03-14
SPk0UL TO BLOCK
HARD COAL RISE
He Moves to Prevent Higher
Prices For Fuel
GOES UP AFTER FEDERAL QUIZ
LEGISLATURE Will Pass Laws "WIth
Teeth" if ecessary, Governor Tells
Attorney General.

Harrisburg, March 14.-Governor
Sproul announced that if the state
possesses the power to prevent an
unjust increase in the prices charged
for anthracite, he purposes % do it.
If the state lacks the machinery for
handling the coal question, lie legis-
lature is now in session, sd Il the gov
ernor, and legislation with .eeth in
it, can be passed.
Governor Sprou stated his position
on the anthracite problem in IA letter
to Attorney General w. l. Srhatfer.
The executive said that he is 'graVely
concerned over reports that there are
to be further increases in the price Of
anthracite, and that he is unable to
see why, after mild winter. in
period when there is let-up III the
Industrial drive and at time when
every effort should be made to get
prices back to a normal basis. the
price of anthracite is to be boosted.
What is wrong? asks the governor.
IF the state lacks the proper macAin-
cry for tackling the coal question, the
legislature is in session and now Is
the time to get the machinery in mo-
ton. The governor, in his letter to
the attorney general, said:
81 am gravely concerned over the
published reports regarding a further
Increase in the cost to the consumer
Of anthracite. Following on unusually
mild winter, when the consumption OF
coal and especially of the domestic
sizes has been much below normal
and at a time when the slarkenlng or
Industry is certainly having its effect
in the use of steam sizes OF anthra-
cite. T am at loss to understand the
commercial, or economic Justlhcalon
for increasing the price of coal now.
/ understand. indeed. that some OF me
mines in the anthracite reg on are on
short time. on account OF the lessenlnS
demand for coal and yet we are adj
yised that some of the principal Gem
NAMES have already announced avery
material increase in the price at when
anthracite will be sold to consumers.
ST am writing to inquire just what
the powers of the state are in this
matter. I know there have been in
yestigations of one kind or another by
committees and commissions from diff
ferent authorities, and that the first
result of the recent intervention of
the federal governmnt in the matter
was an immediate and wholesale in
cease in prices, especially to the
small consumer. Orr legislators now
being in session, it has occurred TO me
that If we lack the legal machinery
q to make the proper inquiries and TO
protect our people HgainS- any
sonable profiteerins in this necessity
of life here in Pennsylvania. now is
the time TO establish such mach merry.
IF we have the power to regulate
The prices of food and other essentials
Eef life for our people. havr- f fid1t--
some rights in the question of fuel
prices in case we should be able to
establish the fact that hard coal costs
are umreasonably high?
"Ceming right at this time when the
efforts of patriotic people everywhere
are directed toward restoring the coal
a.
we are all bending every energy to
provide means of employment in order
to help stabilize labor conditions in
the country, it would seem to me that
there would have to be eXtraordinari-
ly good reasons to justify an Increase
In the cost to our people of such a
necessity to comfortable existence as
anthracite.
"If it is necessary to have Il legis
lative commission investigate the mat
ter, or action is required in other
lines to make the power of the state
effective in the situation, l am pre-
pared to recommend such acton upon
the receipt of your advice as to how
best to accomplish the results we de-
sire I shall, therefore, be greatly
obliged to you if you will give imme-
date consideration to this communi-
cation"