South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-07-24
Will ASK COAL
OPERATORS TO
AID FUEL PLAN
Sec'y Hoover Will Ask Men
From Six States to Assist
in Distribution.
PREVENT PROFITEERING
Program Calls for Creation of
Emergency Committee
Railroads Will Assist.

WASHINGTON. July 23.-CBy A.
P.)-Operators from the coal pro-
ducing districts of six states will be
asked Monday by Sec'y Hoover to
cooperate with the government and
the railroads in a plan TO insure the
distribution OF fuel TO the carriers
and public utilities and to prevent
profiteering during the strike emer-
genCy.
All angles OF Mr.. Hoover's scheme.
which contemplated the formation
Of a central committee TO operate
I through local committees in the pro-
ducing districts OF Virginia. West
Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Penn
sylvania and Alabama, were threshed
out Sunday at a series Of conferences
to the federal agencies involved. Be
fore the opening Of the meeting at
! 10 o'clock Monday morning Mr..
Hoover viii have from Atty. Gen.
Daugherty a report on the powers
| accruing 10 the government IN the
emergency through the cooperation
OF the interstate commerce commits
sion and its authority under the law
! regulating interstate commerce.
In general Mr. Hoover's program
was understood TO contemplate the
/ creation Of an emergency machine
with the committee composed OF a
| representative from the departments
/ Of commerce, justice, interior and
Interstate commerce commission with
| the commerce secretary and chair
man operating through the local
| committees established in the pro-
ducing districts at the time Of the
voluntary agreements fixing maxi
| mum fair prices.
! Pooling of coal in the producing
districts and distribution of cars un-
! der a preferential system TO be in
s'tituted under authority OF the inter
I state commerce commission is plan
ned TO permit Of the marshalling of
! fuel at the most available points for
quick shipment 10 the destination
where most needed. Cooperation be-
tween the railroads and the inter
state commerce commission would
make possible adequate supply OF
cars and establishment Of freight en-
! bargoes If necessary TO facilitate fuel
/ movement Representatives of the
operators and railroads are TO be
/ drafted into service as administra-
ftrative aides TO the central commit
/ tee 10 provide direct contact with
those industries.
Seek General Observance.
( Price maintenance is 10 be sought
through efforts 70 obtain a more gen
eral observance on the part Of small
operators Of the voluntary price
agreements already in force and by
/ cooperation on the part Of the rail-
roads to prevent competitive bidding
! sending coal prices skyward.
While Mr.. Hooyer's scheme was
/ declared 10 he based on the coop
Grafton authority of the interstate
! commerce commission 20 act IN
emergency IN behalf of interstate
commerce was held TO be the gov
I ernment's trump card" To this
! end appointment Of representatives
Of the commission to local COM
rnittees was considered as enabling
the operation Of the program should
co-operative efforts in any district
fall short.
Primarily. Mr.. Hoover has indi-
Gated insurance OF coal supplies 20
the railroads is the object or the
distribution scheme, with indus
| tries producing necessities. pubic
utilities and similar consumers 20
be taken care OF as their needs be
come imperative, while al the same
time the fuel requirements OF the
/ New England states and the Great
lakes regions are 20 be met.
i AWAIT GOVERNORS WORD
DETROIT. Mich, July 23-CBy
A PD-With announcement OF
CONTINUED on page tWO)