The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-01-13
STIFF TAxTO CURB
COUGERS IN COAL
Senator Calder Moves to Ragu-
late Anthracite Industry.
WOULD ELIMINATE JO8BERS
Proposes Federal Supervision and EN-,
powers President to Fix Prices ana
Profits in Enoerq4n cy or Shortage

Washington, Jan. IA bill propos
irg federal regulation for the coal in
dusrry ana empoN ering the president
10 liz prices and profits in case Of
emergency or shortage. was introduce
ed by Chairman Calder, of the senate
committee investigating the 1920 coal
shortage.
The bill also would provide for reg
Mar publication OF data on coal pro
duction costs TO be assembled by the
federal trade commission, and author
ICED tie president to deal in coal and
lake charge of its production and
movement whenever he found usual
laws of trade in suspense"
The act proposes licensing system
for both operators and dealers, and
would impose heavy taxes on profits
of sales by jobbers and brokers, the
purpose being, Chairman Calder ex-
planned, ito drive coal in direct
channel from producers to c0nSum-
ers."
The tax would he 30 per cel.t OF all
commissions of more than fifteen cents
and less than thirty cents a ton; 70
per cent OF commissions exceeding
thirty cents.
In collection of the sales and cost
data from coal mines, the trade COM
mission would make public individual
or corporate names Of producers only
IN case profiteering was disclosed by
returns or where majority of the
Al 80,
was necessary.
The committee believes, said
Chairman Calder, that a regular and
impartial disclosure of the facts. as
10 supply, mine costs and prices, will
do much to prevent continuance or re
currence of profteerIng. While pro-
fteering has been both proved and ad.
mitted, there exists controversy as
to exactly who Is responsible and 10
what extent"
The geological survey, the inter-
state commerce commission and the
federal trade commission are charged
In the act with the duty Of obtaining
the production. distribution and sale
Of coal.
In order 10 clear up the situation
which arises at times because of a
car shortage, the various agencies ad-
ministering details Of the act are to
determine the coal-car shortage ca
pacity at each mine so that the car
capacity will be fixed officially, In
stead of being left to the operators.
The twelfth section Of the act gives
the president complete control over
the coal industry in times Of emergen-
cy, allowing him to control the dis
tribution and sale Of the fuel and 10
tx q maximum price.
The act provides that every sale
above that maximum price shall be re
garded as a misdemeanor Under the
authority conferred upon him the
president virtually could commander
every mine In the country or co9ild
take over the coal fields In any par
ticular locality, depending on the in
terests of public health.
Sections thirteen and fourteen PRO
vide tax on brokerage sales and are
designed to eliminate pyramiding of
sales between dealer and dealer, a
practice on which the high coal costs
have largely been blamed. In addi-
ton to the graded taxes on first sales
from producer 70 distributor the act
provides q 90 per cent tax on all re-
sales where the commission is more
than five cents ton.
The act directs the secretary of la
Dor to investigate labor conditions al
the mines and charges the federal d.
rector of mines with the duty Of as
sembling data on combustion storage
and coal movements.