The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-26
OPERATORS MEET TO
CUT SOFT COAL COST
Cleveland Gathering Viewed
as Most Important in His
tory of Industry.
TO ACT ON PALMER PLEA
Fair Price Schedule and an
End of Abuses Will Be
Strived For.

CLEVELAND, Oct. 25.--Hundreds OF b.
luminous coal operators from producing
fields reached Cleveland tonight for n
general meeting here tomorrow, at
which communication from Attorney
General Palmer urging action toward
lowering of excessive prices for soft coal
will be taken up.
The meeting, which has been called
hy Col. d. Il. Wentz of Philadelphia
president of the National Coal Associd
ton. is expected to be one of the most
important in the history of the industry.
Judging from arrivals IL is anticipated
that upward of a thousand of the 1000
soft coal producers who have been in
vited to attend will participate in to
morrow's meetings, and it is assure
that the Attorney Generals communi-
cation will be the basis for free AMI
open discussion of the whole soft coal
situation as it affects prices.
Col. Wentz called the general meet
ing at the request of Attorney Genera.
Palmer so the Attorney-Genera,'s pro-
posal might be put before all of the
representative soft coal operators.
To Act as Individuals.
1t was explained tonight that rne
National Coal Association, whose men,
bership embraces $500 operators. with
more than three-fourths of the aggre-
gate soft coal output, which will this
year reach nearly 550.0O0.000 tons, can
not, because of the nature of its char
ter, take any action relating to price
fixing. Because of this, Col. Wentz
decided to put the matter before the
general body Of coal operators, but as
individuals. REPRESENTING the various
fields.
While it is not thought that the
operators at to-morrow's meeting Will
attempt to fix any maximum price for
soft coal, IL is understood the ma
jority of those operators In Cleveland
tonight might support a resolution
| favoring flair and reasonable" prices
| and only a reasonable profit TO the
| operators.
1t was also said that out Of the meet
| ing may come a Recommendation Ior
what Is known as fair practice COM
mittees' Of operators in the different
| soft coal mining fields where excessive
prices have existed. Such committees
| have been organized. in cooperation
with the Attorney-Generars office, In
districts in West Virginia, Alabama
| kentucky and other places recently
| These committees are now working &c
| eliminate all abuses in the handing
of coal after 1t leaves the mines, as
we'll as to see that mine prices, wher-
| ever exorbitant, are brought down.
Prices Coming Down.
| Operators here tonight said that witf
| the recent production of soft coal, no"
aggregating nearly 12,OOo,Oo0 tons
week excessive prices wherever the,
| have prevailed are rapidly comint
down. The same operators say ina
throughout the coal shortage emergency
the great bulk OF bituminous coal mas
been sold under contract at the mines
at nominal prices.
Aside from the matter of high prices
| the operators will discuss efforts al
ready under way, backed by the Ma
tional Coal Association, to eliminate
Objectionable practices in the re-sal'
| OF coal. both as to export trade ant
movement of coal for domestic uses
| The association, it was said. mas peer
| cooperating with the Attorney-Gen
erals office for some weeks TO ria th'
| Industry of this ecil.
Before to-morrow's general meeuns
of all operators the National Coal AS
sociation VIII meet to take surVe!
of the soft coal situation Throughout
| the country.