The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-07-25
By Associated Press

Washington, July 24.-Agreement on a tentative plan for distribution of coal and for restriction of unfair prices was announced tonight by Secretary Hoover, after a series of conferences during the day with rep resentatives of producing operators, the railroads, the interstate com merce commission, and other depart ments of the government.
 The plan, which was described by Attorney General Daugherty in an opinion as ~entireiy legal" Is to be discussed fupther tomorrow by the eonferees and the agreement of the operators present is dependent upon the approval ot their various asso- citations.
 The emergency program as now drawn. was submitted tonight 10 the conference of nearly 100 producing operators which inet with Secretary Hoover The comnieraev secretary stated that while the plan had bee;. agreed on in principle, great deal more work would be required on the subject of the organization of local committees to administer on it's pro- visions and after discussion by the operators conference, 1t would be necessary to re-submit the scheme 10 the justice department and the inter- state commerce. commission.
 The proposed emergency program, Mir. Hoover declared, was very we'll outlined by MT. Daugherty in his opinion attesting the legality of the plan
 Harding TO Appoint.
 Under the proposed plan, President Harding would appoint committee which would have general supervi- sion of the measures to be adopted for emergency fuel control designed to safeguard the public from an im- pending coal famine. Application of the laws governing interstate com merce, through the Interstate com- merce commission would enable the allocation of freight cars to be gov erned by the maintenance of fair prices Tor coal among the operators The tentative plan follows:
 "A committee in Washington, to be appointed by the president, of repre- sentatives of the department of commerce interstate commerce com miscsiol, the department of justice and the department of the interior. to be designed, the presidential committee. This com- mittee to have general supervision of the measures to be taken and to authorize the execution of such of these measures as may be necessary from time to time.
 Joint Committees.
 rThs administrative committee. comprising representatives of the presidential committee, together with representatives of operators, representatives of the railways, and, where necessary. representatives of the larger consuming groups.
 The presidential committee will establish a representative in each coal producing district
 The presidential committee will appoint a committee of operators in each district to bc nominated by the District Operators association or ill., dependent operators Gin case of fail : ure of operators to take such meas ures, the presidential committee may appoint such operators as they see fit on such committee, The members of these district committees may be changed as determined on by the presidential committee.
 The presidential committee will cooperate with the interstate com merce commission in carrying out preferential orders issued by the commission.
 Agencies Advise
 saThe governmental representa- tives in the district with the co-op- eration of the district committed shall advise the\ agencies of the in lterstate commerce commission as to local car movement. to effect the purposes of this plan.
 The operators will proceed with their usual business until they a-e affected by preference orders.
 'it is expected that the district Committees under the authority oi the presidential committee will recommend the allotment of cars on the basis of those who conform tc the fair prices to be agreed with the presidential committed.
 Guarantee Assured
 When the operators demand then suitable guarantees shall bs given for payment by persons buy. ing under priority orders.
 he railroads will be requested tc appoint representative to deal witf purchases of railway fuel.
 he basis of prices agreed on be- tween the operators and the Secre. tary or Commerce on June II, to bt maintained. except where varied b, the presidential committee and this same basis of price determination ehall be applied to all districts which are so far not cooperating.
 The whole of the above Is ten, t1five. pending further considera. tion by interstate commerce commis. sicn. the department of justice, sh<