The Washington herald., 1922-06-01
SECRETARY HOOVER
TO FIX COAL PRICES
WHILE STRIKE RUNS
Move to Avoid Antitrust
Law Agreed to by
Operators.
FAVORS WAR SCALE
Advisory Committee to Aid
Adjustment in Effort to
Block Profiteering.
FAVORS WAR SCALE

Secretary of Commerce Hoover 10
going to fix coal prices himself.
Upon this course in the coal
strike crisis to prevent profteer-
ing the Secretary Of Commerce de-
termined yesterday at confer
ence attended by more than 500
coal operators.
Fear of infringing upon anti
trust laws led 20 Mr.. Hoover's de-
termination to assume personal
responsibility. for fixing maximum
prices for spot coal and to aban-
don his original proposal under
which the coal operators by agree
ment among themselves were to
have controlled prices.
Operators Approve.
Under the original plan the op-
orators would have selected dis
trict committees with authority to
direct a voluntary system of al
locating orders for spot coal at
prices approximately the same as
those fixed by former Fuel Admin
istrator Garfield during the war.
When the operators met him YES
terday. Mr.. Hoover announced the
alteration of his plan. While many
Of the operators individually ex-
pressed approval Of the revised
scheme the Secretary Of Commerce
declined to put a motion for it's
Endorsement on the ground THAI
such action might constitute an in
fringement of the law.
Mr.. Hoover asserted at the outset
Of the conference that he proposed
to take full responsibility upon
himself that there would be no
agreements as to prices among op-
orators. but agreements only be.
tween the individual operators and
himself.
Acts without Law.
In explaining his program. Mr.
Hoover made it clear that there is
no law authorizing price fixing IN
peace time and that he can invoke
no penalties other than the force
Of public opinion to prevent prof.
teering.
Secretary, Hoover summarized his
plan as follows:
1. That the Garfield prices for
run of mine coal should be the
basis of computing sales prices
with such adjustments as are nee
essary to include wholesale selling
costs. changed conditions at the
mines and other factors that will
be fair to the public and the op-
orators maintaining production.
2. That each district should norni-
nate to the Secretary of Commerce
committee to ADVISE with him on
conditions which bear on the Gar
field level and on which a basis of
fair prices In each district may be
esta ablished by the Secretary of
Commerce.
3. ThSt after the fair prices have
been established these district COM
mittees should report to the Secre-
tary of Commerce any cases Of
profiteering and act as he requests
to meet such cases.
COMMITTEE Is Named.
Following the general conference
the different groups of operators
met independently to select COM
mitttes to discuss the sitaution in
the various districts with Secretary
Hoover.
mittee was announced by Mr..
AAOONet' inns COthihihteca Is CSih-
posed of Alfred NJ. Ogle, of TerreA
Haute, Ind. president of the Ma
tional Coal Association; C. e.
Bockus,N of New York City. coal
operator; George Otis Smith. d.
rector of Geological Survey; z. A.
Holbrook. acting director of the
Bureau of Mines. and F. r. wad-
leigh, of the fuel division of the
Bureau OF Foreign and Domestic
Commerce.
Secretary Hoover. in addressing
the conference. sad that action is
necessary to prevent high prices.
"we are producing 100000 tons
of bituminous coal a week" said
lre..Ai....-I q n