The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-05-19
COAL MEN IN
AGREEMENT NOT
To PROF|TEER
Voluntary Understanding Is
Rcachcdat Conference With
Secretary Hoover - 500
Soft Coal Operators Will
Enter the Pact.

washington. May 1S.-tOal operators
from ,yho-e mines is coming the bulk
Of non-un!on and open shop" coal being
produced in spite OF the hitumin"uS
miners strike reached an agreement to-
lav with Secretary Hoover upon an ad-
ministrat!on plan for preventing prom
tcerinr and high coal prices during the
period the industry remains partially
tied up.
The scheme was adopted after Mr..
Hoover told the operators-assembled
In response to President Harding's In
vitatton-that the coal industry would
either govern itself or the government
would govern it." The committee also
Issued n call for another and large
sathering of operators to ratify tho
plan and to bring the committee or
ganizat!"n into being.
Establish Clearing House
In brief the plan will require the Gre
alton of clearing house committees In
each producing coal district. made up OF
operators consumers Representatives
and a government agent. who WilI sup
ervise distribution OF orders Tor coal,
will see that coal is sold direct 10 con
6umcrS. and thaA uriccs are reasonable.
A general committee in Washington
NJ the Samr type will maintain co-or-
dination between the district COM
mittecs. Mr.. Hoover assured the meet
ing. which was attended 10y NOR" than
fifty operators, that the plan would be
"voluntary and temporary.
Secretary Hoover also proposed that
the seal. Of prices nNcd by Fuel Ad-
minStrator Garfield In 1917. with such
adjustments as may lee necessary
should serve az the rough basis for
price agreements.
Discussing the conference later Mr.
Hoover warned that il WIS 10y no
means certain that such Il plan Will
succced," pointing out that the fifty OPP
orators in the agreement. though con-
trolling n very great proportion of pres
ent soft coal production. had TO oh
tain the cooperation Of l.i00 other OPP
orators"
The Chief Task.
The chief task. MIR. Hoover said.
would he TO penetrate the entire body
# I.juv Operators with the plan agreed
upun.
The Informal committee meeting vita
the secretary later. drew up and made
VUhrc the following rrcommcndatio!s 5:
That 4 general conference Of opcr-
ntors u"w producing coal should he call
ed to Washington at an early date To
consider plans for the better Co-ordIna-
ton Of coal distribution and the pre-
venting Of prottcering.
The following plan or such amend
mcnt 10 it as WAS proposed To be laid
before the conference:
Il: The representatives. OF the CON
ference ho appointed. together with rep
rrScutaI!vcs Of the government depart
m"nts as standing committee to ad-
wise upon co-"rdinations OF coal distr-
button between districts
- That each district be asked 10
form a committee that should Co-urdin-
R'e distribution and 10 coordinate with
the standing committee.
=: The various committees would
take measures TO assure the direct
progress or coal direct to the COnsum r
In proportion 10 his needs.
~ The GarifiHld prices should he tn,
basis for computing sales prices vita
such adjustments as are necessary tn
meet such charged conditions as to
costs and other factors. as will he fair
TO the public and 10 tho operators"