The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-22
WILL BE INFORMED AS ID
 PRICES OF COAL
Agreement Reached Between Gov. KiIby and Coal 0p- erators-Campaign to
 Prevent Profiteering

According to agreement between the governor and representatives of leading producers of domestic coal, the householder purchasing coal in retail quantitieF is to be kept post ed this fall and winter on these three points:
 l. The cost of domestic coal at the mines.
 2. The freight rates on coal from mines to the various towns in Ala bama.
 3. The estimated cost of operat- ing a retail coal yard in the differ cnt towns.
 This agreement was reached by the governor and representatives of a dozen domestic mines at confer ence held yesterday in Montgomery.
 Retail Prices Inquiry of two leading retail coal yards made by The Age Herald yes terday afternoon elicited the infor- nation that there had been no ad . vance in the price of retail coal since the spring prices were announced, April 1. IL has been the custom to advance prices month by month after April but this has not been done this year.
 Alabama Ice and Cold Storage prices remain as follows: Sipsey and Acton, S9 for one ton and SS.15 for five tons and over. Cedrom, S775 fo- Fa 1 over.
 Wittichen Coal and Transfer com pany prices remain as follows. Wal ker county coal $S for one ton, sT75 for five tons and over Carbon Hill coal which is the most used of all the medium grade domestic coals, is sold in Birmingham at $S and $S.25.
 Agreement in Detail
 Following special telegram from Montgomery gives account of the agreement with the governor in de tail:
 Montgomery, June 21--(speeial).- Consumers of coal in all sections of Alabama will be given information about tine prices of coal at the mines. the cost of transportation and the approximate expenses in handling lt up to the time it is placed in the coal bins of the ultimate purchasers.
 Following conference at the es- ecutive department between a com mittee representing the operators of domestic coal mines of the Birming- ham district and the governor, which continued a good part of Tuesday morning. Governor kilby announced an agreement was reached wherepy the coal operators name two mem bers of a special committee which ;.l ,h.at- mn ai n ed by the governor, for the purpose of determining the approximate prices which should be paid for coa. by consumers in the various sections of the state and at the various sea- sons of the year.
 The publicity campaign which is intended to inform the people of the situation regarding coal will be started without delay. The purpose of the publicity campaign will be to prevent profiteering.
 Cost at the Mines
 The committee proposes to deter mine what is the cost of producing the coals at the mine, the cost 3f transporting the commodity to the various sections of the state. and the cost of handling the product by the retailers, allowing the retailer and operators reasonable profit for their operations
 When the figures have been made epresentative of the governor will be named to check up in order that any errors may be corrected Roy R. Cox, chief clerk of the state board of control and economy and former assistant state fuel administrator, has been designated by the Governor as the state member while E. A. Holmes and A. w. Vogtle were de- sgnated by the operators.
 Reasonable Profit
 Governor Kilby said he was hope full that this agreement will be the means of eliminating much of the profiteering. about which there was complaint last winter. Coal opera tors rave contended that the prices that they have made at the mines have been based on the cost of mia. ing the coal plus reasonable pro fit, and that if unreasonable prices have been charged in various sec tions of the state. the fault has been with those who obtained the coal after it left the mines. They now propose to keep a close check on those who are responsible for the delivery of the coal to the ultimate consumers, in order that profiteer- ing, if any, may be placed on the proper person.
 The special committee came to Montgomery to confer with the Gov ernor following thef latter's state ment that there was profiteering last year, and that the state government will not stand for it again. B. F. Roden was chairman of the commit tee which conferred with the gov ernor and among others with him were George F. Peter, w. $. Lowell,