Grand Forks herald., 1922-06-10
'CONGR SSiII|ONA!L /
PROBE. / J PROPOSED L J
IF If NECESSARY
Conference Between Hoover
and Borah Held III Wash
ington Friday.
Governmental Action t
Bring End to Strike is
Not Discussed.

III Washington, June 1O.-Congres-r
donal investigation of prices charged
by bltuminous coal operators and re-
tailers was promised Friday by Sena-
senate labor committee at a confer
ence with Sec. Hoover, If the basic
price scale established and. confer
ences between Mr.. HooveKwith COM,
mittees of producing operators are
made the basis for prohteering.
Secretary Hoover was said to have
assured Senator Borah that In fur,
ther conferences with operators and
dealers he would do his utmost 10
price. adjustment to protect the pub
lie, and Senator >Borah was understood
to have agreed to withhold any in.
, vestigation pending the outcome of
Mr.. Hoover's action. -
1t was said that at the conference
> held at the instance of the secretary,
the question of governmental action
for bringing about q settlement of the
strike was not discussed.
The subjects discussed lat the con-
i, ference were said to have been the
price agreements negotiated through
i Mr. Hoover and possible congressional
action, including legislation.
1t was said Senator Borah had no
desire to interfere with Mr.. Hbover's
! price negotiations so long ais they
were not made the means for charg-
ing excessive prices. But it was said
Senator Borah had questioned the le-
i. Would Block Increases.
The conference lasted an hour. 1t
was understood Mr.. Hoover would
kproceed forthwith securing adjust
(ments of prices based on a maximum
price Of $3.50 a ton and also to take
steps to prevent operators from charg-
ing unreasonable prices to retailers.
Following the conference. Senator
Borah said: MY position at the con-
ference tonight was simply this: If
operators and retailers work together
/, and will cooperate to protect the
public in the matter of prices would
!. not favor at this time. any investiga-
ton and would let this price propo-
sition work itself sos,t ifsit y "a.
j5 But If the rnaXifn uId W t1ith haS
been fixed by Me- stver is going to
be used by the operators as ! mini
mum price. and thus pushed onto tho
lretailers and the operators together
take advantage of the situation to
boost the price to the public I would
favor an investigation to force COM
plete investigation with view to
laying the foundation fer public con-
troll" .s..--l, ~. ~
Hoover Presses Question.
Roderick Stephens. of New York,
chairman of the governmental rela-
tions committee of the. association,
declared it would be waste of time
to continue the discdssion," in view
+. of Mr.. Hoover's Intention to evade
the ISSUE" He charged the secretary
\ with attempting to confuse the ques-
ton at issue in that by claiming to
have prevented an advance in the
price of bituminous coal he had
"failed to consider the interest Of a
substantial proportion of the, con-
Stunning public" such as apartment
houses.
Mr.. Hoover in reply stated that he
3 noted the letter from Mr.. Stephens
did not reply to his suggestions made
public Thursday as to how retail Goa
dealers could play a fine part in this
! emergency" and added, y again re.
peat that should be glad to know
whether your association will or will
not undertake to- protect the con.
sumer by cooperation in. the above
particulars or what alterations in the
above you would consider fair"