The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1922-06-12
kl0VERC0ALPRII:E.
fLAN TO Be TRIED
Pending Demonstration Senate
Action VIII DO Withheld
WALSH ISSUES WARNING
4seiarss investigation and indictment
OF situminous Operators viii Come
Unless Prices Are Reduced.

Washington, June l2.-Senatoria
affection 10 the administration #
rur,s IL prevent rising coal prices W u
WiliuraMn, pending Il demonstrate
~ HE success OF Secretary Hoover.
program OF meeting the situation BY
moral persuasion. while assurances
OF cooperation were given b, lie
commerce secretar! i'll his effort, H.,
the National Retail Coal Merchants
AS.OLiA Iion
Sena OF Walsh. Dems ,-rIt. Ma. t
ehus-tt:. Joined with >ei.atur E"..;h
ke puLl san. Idaho. III announcin" Ia.
III. .-G..i.n VI withholding This ,.!n>
4, ,..-.l.t fur congressional inNt,i.: =,
IL :. II The coal price problem. ii
thu, lie declared that ii ads,i,, e.
Ii D.:,~s We're not quickly overcome
tl,- v. .iuid seek ru determine the ia,
ii If necessary urge indictments j.
~ Il e. ring existed.
t."drTick Stephens. OF New furE
tIl:, ri,istl Of the board Of directors 81
thu tt-Iail Coal Association, wrote Mr
Hoover thar his organization w",llr
:lmtd. lueiy study the >pecid,. sax
",.s: ions offered As a policy Tor III.
guidance of the retail coal trade
Dew eiopmen;S in The coal price c"H
Irovers! since his conference win
Senator Borah were regarded
Hoover as giving him the support .tn.
cooperation necessary TO push ILL.,
program of moral persuasion" =.
keep charges for fuel from climbing
during lhe emergency
Senator Borah's useful warning.
Mr.. Hoover said. in statement. 'IhIi
no aid or comfort will lie given from!
tile committee OF The senate OF wh.c.l
he is chairman 10 those who nave re
fused 10 cooperate in the voluntary
plan OF restraining coal prices will
| IruSI, put an end TO the recent Az
lions OF some people in attempting to
upset these arrangements through sen
stor:al support.
The National Coal Retailers Asso,
cisrion now informs ME thut they
wish 10 cooperate. and | have III
Gvuhr they Will reply La my origiuui
propu= tons. III The meanrime yariou:
STATE and local retail associations are
assuring me that The! will play HE
game. Solne OF the smaller groups vi
operators have So far refused 10 az.
cept The basis thar | have proposed
but the larger fields are cooperating
70 solve difficult situation. AS Wi.
ness the halt IN price; and other re
duction in the past few days.
There seems To be som, mistak en
impression that the secretary of coin,
nerce has any duty or authority TO
control prices. other than the desire
OF the administration TO use its good
Offices 10 protect the public. Congress
has given NO powers TO the administers
ton and In their absence, If these
good offices prove Intellectual, il is VI
TO congress TO devise some other meth
3D.
Senator Walsh. in = statement, de
clared that a congressional investtga
ton would be made and indictment
Of bituminous coal operators who have
used the Hoover price-ti King agree
ment 10 raise prices would be demand
ed unless Secretary Hoover obtains
reduction Of prices IN contract Goa
'in few days"
The Ma ssachuserts senator talked
with Senator Borah, chairman of the
senate labor committee, regarding the
latter's conference with Secretary
Hoover and announced that he would
support Senator BCrah in Withholding
action for a brief time to await re
suits Of the commerce secretary's
promised conferences with operators
TO secure price reductions.
Senator Walsh added that If Secre
tary Hoover does not prevent prce
Increases the committee would pro
coed with an investigator If this
discloses that operators have under
the Hoover ~greement raised prices
for contract gal Senator Walsh said
the attorney general would be asked
to indict such operators for CunSpii.