The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-11-02
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS
INSTRUCTED TO KEEP
WATCH ON ACTIONS
MINERS AND OWNERS
Fuel Administration Has
Restored Former Coal
Prices and Any Profi-
teering viii Be Pro-
ceeded Against

Instructions were issued today
by Attorney General Palmer to
all United States attorneys to
keep closely in touch with the
coal situation in their districts
and report promptly any con-
certed action "by any two or
more persons" to limit facili-
ties for transportation. pro-
ducing, supplying, storing or
dealing in coal, or to exact ex-
cessive prices.
While no official explanation of the
order was available. one purpose aimed
at was understood to be to prevent radi-
cal agitators among the idle coal min
ers from obtaining a leadership II
was made public tonight following the
return to Washington Of c. b. Annes%
assistant to Mr.. Palmer, who procured
for the government the injunction in
the coal strike issued yesterday at In
dianapolis by Judge Anderson. Mr..
Ames will assist in the administration
Of the fuel and food control laws, but
would not discuss the governments
plans
PALMER'S INSTRUCTIONS
Mr.. Palmer's instructions TO The nSs
trict attorneys follows;
| Yesterday at Indianapolis
Anderson, on the application OF
United States, issued a temporar
straining order restraining
number of the United Mine Wo
| from taking any action or proce
of any kind whatsoever III furthe
/ OF the bituminous coal strike
had been previously called.
1T is OF the utmost ilnpor
T that i ahould be promptly IJs'lsl
lany concerted action by any tw
more persons III your district TO ,
/ forward this strike. Please conan
cate with the marshal and the
representatives OF the bureau OF b
vestigaton and keep yourself fully in-
formed of the situation in your dir
trict
'If YOU discover any concerted action
I by any two or more persons, either
employers. employees or others. which
amounts TO an agreement or arrange
ment to limit the facilities for trans
portating. producing, supplying, stor-
ing or dealing In coal or to restrict
the supply or distribution of same or
to exact excessive prices for coal or
| to aid or abet in the doing of any such
act, YOU should advise me at once by
wire, giving me names OF persons and
fun particulars.
Federal fuel adm inistration has is
sued order restoring former prices fixed
by fuel administration and any prof.
! teerng in coal should be promptly pro-
ceeded against"
EACH SIDE WAITING
Aside from this action by Attorney
General Palmer, there was lull IN
the coal strike situation here today
Each side was waiting apparently for
the other to move.
Reports from mining fields. stretch
ing from Pennsylvania to Washington
state, showed that the strike order was
generally obeyed by union men, while
nonunion mines remained in operation
In the central competitive fields. the
union stronghold. mines were closed
Although labor leaders asserted there
was 100 per cent" compliance with the
, strike order, officials believed the real
test would come Monday. Saturday
always slack day at the mines, offer
ed enough attractions, it was said, to
drag many workers from the mines
regardless of the strike order.
| How long the strike might run. thr
| possibility of mediation, and a check
up on the nations available supply Of
| coal. with the winter demand for fuel
! increasing. were the principal Quea-
| tions 20 engage attention OF cabinet
members. Some of the strike reports
| were more encouraging. and with con
| tinued operation of nonuuion mines il
was claimed the supply would meet
current needs.
MUCH COAL MOVING
A vast volume of coal the last taken
| from the mines before the men quit
work, was moving today with the rail
road administration putting forth ev.
| cry effort to distribute il TO sections
where most needed. after looking after,
! its own requirements.
| The geological survey. experimenting
| statement issued last night by Sec
rotary Lane, said soft coal production
for the week ended October Is. was lS,-
| $4,000 tons, probably record, and
! that miners. with few exceptions
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