New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-07-25
Presidential Committee to
Be Formed, Co-operat-
ing w it h Commerce
Board in Emergency
Profteering Mines
To Lose Privilege
Proposal as Announced
by Hoover Makes No
Move Against S Strik C
By Carter Field


WASHINGTON, July PA plan
for rationing coal to the country to
prevent a fuel famine resulting
from the miners strike was worked
out to-day in a series of meetings
here, under the auspices of Secretary
of Commerce Hoover. The plan,
which had the Endorsement of Attor-
ney General Daugherty, also calls
for the rationing of available coal
cars to mines which observe govern
mental policies, especially as to coal
prices. 1t is to be carried out under
the supervision of a government
chosen committee, which will have
agents in the various fields.
Price Restriction Planned
The plan was announced tonight
without further official comment
than that it was a tentative plan
under discussion for distribution of
the, current coal production, and for
restriction of unfair prices"
Meanwhile the Administration,
Secretary of War Weeks said, was
not changing it's general policy with
regard to the coal strike for the
present, but is insisting that the
operators resume production, and
promising them protection from dis
orders.
The plan, as announced tonight by
Secretary Hoover, follows:
"A committee in Washington, to be
appointed by the President, Of repre-
sentatives of the Department of Com
merce, the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, the Department of Justice and
the Department of the Interior, to be
designated the Presidential Commit
tee. This committee to have general
supervision of the measures to lie
taken hereunder and to authorize the
execution of such of these measures
as may be necessary from time to
time
"The Administrative Committee,
comprising representatives of the
Presidential Committee. together with
representatives of operators. repre-
sentatives of the railways and, where
consuming groups.
"The Presidential Committee will es,
tablish a representative in each coal
PRODUCING district
"The Presidential Committee will ap-
point a committee of operators in each
district to be nominated by the dis
trict operators association or inde-
pendent operators. On case Of failure
of the operators to take such action
the Presidential Committee may ap-
point such operators as they see fit on
such committee.) The members of
these district committees may be
changed as determined upon by the
Presidential Committee.
Orders to Be Enforced
"The Presidential Committee will CO.
operate with the Interstate Commerce
Commission in carrying out preferen-
tial orders issued by the commission
"The governmental representatives
in the districts, with the cooperation
of the district committees, shall ad-
wise the agencies of the Interstate
Commerce Commission as to local car
m movement as to effect the purposes of
this plan
"The operators will proceed with
their usual business until they are sf-
fected by preference orders.
ait IS expected that the district COM
mittees under the authority Of the
Presidential Committee win recommend
the allotment of cars on the basis OF
those who conform to the fair prices
to be agreed upon with the Presiden-
tial Committee.
Payment Will Be Guaranteed
"When the operators demand. then
suitable guarantees shall be given for
payment by persons buying under pri-
ority orders.
"The railroads will be requested to
appoint O. representative to deal with
purchases of railway fuel.
"The basis of prices agreed upon be-
tween the operators and the Secretary
of Commerce on June / are to be main
tained, except where varied by the
Presidential Committee, and this same
basis of price determination shall be
applied to all districts which are so
far not cooperative.
"The whole Of the above is tentative,
pending further consideration by the
Department of Justice, Department of
Interior and the Department of Com
merce."
Both this plan and new plan for
handling the railroad strike would be-
discussed at to-morrow's Cabinet meet
ing, it was announced, though no ink
ling of what is in mind with regard to
the railroad strike was officially dis
closed.
Announcement Startles Capital
To-day's announcement came as a
big surprise. 1t had been expected
that the least development of the day
would be announcement by the Inter-
state Commerce Commission that the
government would take charge of rcut.
ing coal trains, so as to move them
to their destination over the shortest
lines, regardless of what the owner,
ship Of the lines happened to be. and
whether the line on which the coal
originated had most of the haul or not.
This was a measure not only mt
into effect during the war, but also
exercised by the !. G. c. in the spring