Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-10-23
COAL BOARD PLANS
TO FIND PR0F|TEERS
Cost Of Production, Transport
tation and Distribution to
Be Studied First
PUBLIC TO GET FINDINGS
Bv a Sta1 Correspondent

Washington, Oct. 23.-Whethcr there
is any profiteering, in anthracite coal
prices paid by the consumer today is
to be the first inquiry made by the Coal
Fact Finding Commission appointed by
President Harding. John Hays Ham
mond, chairman Of the commission. de-
sires that the public shall have complete
and accurate Information as to the pres
ent costs Of producing, transporting and
distributing coal.
Coal prices are causing argument and
trouble throughout the country, and
especially the prices asked for an
thracite. There Is no intention on the
pnrt of the commission to infer that
prices are unreasonable or that there
is profteering. But 1t Is the belief of
the commission that producers, distrib-
utors, miners and consumers will be
served best by giving the public infor-
nation. And the co operation of all
will be sought in this cndeavor.
Within the next two weeks Chairman
Hammond expects to have his organ
ization completed and the investigation
under way. Today there will be a con-
ference with Ellis Searles. of Indian
apolis; Thomas Kennedy, of Ohio, and
John Moore, of Pennsylvania. repre-
SCnVHVlVpS OIL iHe I Hlt'fl INlne
Tomorrow meeting will be held with
bituminOus operators and conference
with anthracite operators will be held
on Thursday. These will be informal
and merely for the purpose of planning
for the study to be made by the COM
mission.
+ No Hearings at Present
For the present, at least, and proba-
bly, for some future time. there will be
no meetings or hearings before the
| commission. This plan was adopted by
Mr.. Hammond with the idea Of push.
ing the work as rapidly as possible.
! The commission plans to make immedi-
| ate use, however, of information gained
! in other Investigations.
As outlined now: the plan of pro-
cedure is to be as follows:
First-Assignment of experts to the
information gained in previous investi-
| cations, such as that made by the Sen.
ate Committee on Reconstruction, of
which former Senator Kenyon was the
active chairman. All the facts which
will be important and pertinent to the
work Of this commission will be COM
piled.
| Sccond-Organiza Of experts to
specialize on different subjects with the
| assignment of capable men to labor
problems, the question Of transportation
and of distribution and other related
subjects.
Third-Assignment of experts =. to
questions relating to waste in the indus
try and to the charges of protiteering.
Much Data Available
The commission must make n pre-
liminary report in January and it Is the
| hone that the investigation alreQdy
made will supply much of the data.
mendatiOns at that time but more Of an
intention to build the foundation for the
nprmanent work of the organization
Once that has been established, the
commission will 60 on to its final work
Of preparing recommendations for Con-
! gress.
1t is assured that plenty of infor-
nation as to past conditions has been
prepared. Volumes Of evidence were
made after the Kenyon committee com.
pleted its work and some years ago n
congressional committee on industrial
relations made a very comprehensive
investigation. This information should
form n fairly accurate picture for the
beginning of the work.
Mr.. Hammond is endeavoring to avoid
| long investigations and reports. There
| will be n report and recommendations
to Congress. but the desire of the com :
mission Is to simplify that work and to
make it as brief and as practical as it
can be made. When the recommenda- =
tons reach Congress. it is the hope
| that there will be little opportunity for
! cavil. 1t Is with this end in view that
the public will be informed constantly
as to what is taking place.