The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-07-22
DETERMINED TO ASCERTAIN IF
PROTECTION PLEDGE WILL
SECURE SUFFICIENT FUEL.
PRODUCERS OF SIX STATES
CALLED TO HEAR PLEA OF
HOOVER NOT TO BOOST
PRICES.
SURVEY SHOWS COAL ENOUGH
TO MOVE ESSENTIAL TRANS
PORTATlON TWO WEEKS.

Washington. July 21.-(By the As
ISOLATED PresSl-The government Is
prepared 10 stand pat" for period
Of ten days 10 two weeks in its atti-
tCde toward the coal strike. it was in
dictated today. in order to ascertain
whether sufficient production will be
obtained through the reopening or
binIminous mines under guarantee OF
federal protection to assure the fuel
requirements OF essential industries.
In the meantime. however, plans FOR
distribution OF the Curtailed supply OF
coal are 10 be pushed. il was said.
Secretary Hoover announced tonight
that he had called meeting here next
Monday OF representatives Of produc-
ing districts in Pennsylvania, West
Virginia, Tennessee. Kentucky, Ala
bama and Virginia 10 discuss the pro-
posed "rationing" plan and to formu-
late a policy designed to restrain
profiteering.
While all three parties to the re-
cent conferences in Washington, the
government. operators and union.
seemed satisfied that the situation as
locked. a new move for restoration OF
peace in the coal fields was seen in
the resolution introduced in the SEN
ate today by Senator King. Democrat.
Utah, VINO proposed creation Of a COM
mission OF i've to investigate both
sides OF the controversy and report its
findings. No provision was. made in
the resolution for enforcing the find
ings made by the commission, but Mr..
King expressed the opinion that such
q body set up by positive legislation
would have more authority than did
the conference approved by the Presi-
dent.
TWO Weeks Coal Supply.
A survey Of remaining coal stocks
WAS said 10 have convinced the ad'
ADMINISTRATION officials that these were
Sufficient 10 permit a fortnight OF
,wait.ng 10 develop the response TO the
presidential invitation TO the operat-
orS TO resume operation without add
ing unduly TO the danger OF an indus
trial shutdown through lack OF fuel.
! Secretary. Hoover's program for
emergency distribution was said to
d Icontemplate the organization OF a
central committee here which would
lact through local committees in the
principal coal producing sections.
plans have been formulated" Mr..
Hoover said, for cooperation OF the
department OF commerce and the in,
,terstate commerce commission and
the department Of justice, BY which
with the cooperation OF responsible
Operators the control OF prices and
distribution can be effected. The plan
Is now before the department OF JUS
ltice for their consideration. and II in
wolves the pooling OF coal in each dis
trict and the distribution Of cars un
der the authority and direction OF the
government. with the cooperation OF
the operators committees"
Power Of the government to act
through the interstate commerce com
mission under the interstate com,
nerce act was understood 10 be the
legal point before the justice depart,
ment, which IS the effective force oil
the ADMINISTRATORS emergency coal
scheme.
To Check Protiteerlns.
With the coal IN each producing dis
itrict pooled, It was believed that the
central committee could direct the
distribution OF fuel to needy points
through the assignment of cars. and
could facilitate coal movement by
priority orders from the interstate
commerce commission. while at the