Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-06-01
HOOVER TAKES
STEPS To FIX
COAL PRICES
Says Consumption Over
Production Goes ;
Million Tons a Week.

Washington, May 31.-Maximum
| fair prices for spot coal in five dis
tricts were announced Wednesday night
by Secretary Hoover after reaching
agreements with committees represent
ing fields under the plan adopted in the
general conference of operators from
producing fields for preventing run
away prices on coal at the mines dur
ing the strike.
1t was determined that in the Ala
bama district the fair price should be
% cents below the final Garfield
scale or a maximum of $500 ton
to $3.50 ton.
In the Harlan and Hazard fields of
Kentucky, the Southern Appalachian
fields of Tennessee and Kentucky and
the Pocahontas, New River, Tug River
and Winding Gulf fields (Smokeess
coal district of West Virigina) the
maximum price was fixed at $3.50 a
ton.
Washington, May 31.-Secretary
Hoover Wednesday assumed the re
sponsibility for fixing a reasonable
price on spot coal during the continu-
ance of the present coal strike.
Opening the conference of union and
non union operators in the producing
fields, Mr.. Hoover declared that any
looking toward the fixing of the price
of coal even though in the interest of
the public would be Illegal He asked
therefore that the individual operators
agree with him upon reasonable
price for coal in their respective dis
tricts.
Mr.. Hoover suggested the immediate
appointment of committees represent
ing each producing district to advise
with him upon fair price for coal in
their respective districts. He also
asked that these committees continue
in existence after the determination of
a fair price, reporting cases of unfair
charges.
He told the several hundred oper-
ators at the meeting that the produc-
ton, which was now about 100000
tons week with consumption between
s 10000 and S,5OO,O00. thus necessi-
tating withdrawal from stock amount
ing to between 100000 and 3.500.O0
tons a week. Production will increase
slightly as time goes on, he added.
Coal prices today. Mr.. Hoover said,
ranged from about $225 to $3.50 a
ton at the mine.
The public. he contended should un-
derstand that the problem at hand is |
one of almost stupendous difficulty.
Conditions Govern Fair Price
What a fair price for coal is de- |
pends upon conditions in each district !
and where profiteering begins and ends /
IS a question of definite fair price. de /
upon facts and not upon |
theories. the secretary told the oper-
ltors. There is not. Mr.. Hoover said,
! single shred of law 10 enforce a
air price or prevent profiteering. and
he law prohibits operators agreeing
rs to what a fair price may be.
81 propose to inquire thoroughly as
o the situation in various districts
md | will take the responsibility on
ny own back and will ask every oper
ltor to accept this basis in his own
district" Mr.. Hoover told the oper
ltors. The agreement, he continued.
would be between the operators and
he secretary of commerce, and if an
operator failed to live up to it. it
would be upon his conscience.
Suggestion Is Approved
Mr.. Hoover's suggestion was ap-
roved by A. NJ. Ogle. president of the
National Coal association.
The secretary announced the ap
ointment of an advisory committee to
egln meeting at once with commit
ees representing operators in the
arious districts. The committee con
lists of Mr.. Oglc and &. +. Brockus. ,
Jew York; George Otis Smith. di !
ector of the geological survey; e. A.
lolbrook. acting director of the bu- ,
eau of mines: and b. A. Hadleigh, .
hief of the coal division of the com !
lerce department. 7
Quick action was urged in order that
ne coal price situation might be i,
nmcdied at once. tcc