New-York tribune., 1922-09-19
9 State Chiefs
Confer ON Plan
To Handle Coal
Federal Fuel Distributor
Joins With Others i'm
Effort to Divide e Sup
ply ON a Fair Basis
Mine Price Is i'm Doubt
Local Dicta.ors Have No
Power to Prevent Prof
iteering by Operators

The first Of series Of conferences
between Federal and state fuel ad-
ministrators for the purpose of plan
ming eoritahle DIS ~isution and fsir
pricing for both anthracite and btumi-
nous coal was held yesterday at the
office of Wi liam II. Woodin, State
Fuel Administrator for New York, at
165 Broadway In addition to MIR.
Woodin there were present II. Il.
Spencer, Federal Fuel Distributor, and
the fuel administrators or their repre-
sentativeS from eight states.
The question of distribution was the
principal subject discussed, although
the matter of price also was touched
upon. After a session of several hours
Mr.. Spencer, Speaking for the con-
ferees, SAID that the entire question Of
distribution Of both hard and soft
coal had been considered, but that no
definite decisions had been arrived at.
On Thursday, Mr.. Spencer said, the
same group will meet in Philadelphia
with the anthracite operators, and it
is expected at that time to adopt a
definite plan of distribution.
Price at Mines the Question
The participation of the anthracite
operators in the conference in Phila-
dclphia on Thursday has given rise to
the belief that the matter of anthracite
prices will be gone into fully at that
time. An effort may even be made to
get some sort of an agreement from
the operators as to hard coal prices at
the mine, although it has not yet been
definitely established just how much
power the state fuel administrators
have to fix prices.
If such an agreement can be reached
many of the problems as to price Which
! the several state administrators face
/ will have been solved. AS Mr.. Woodin
has pointed out repeatedly, he has au-
| thor.ty as administrator for New York
! State to regulate prices only after
the coal has come into the state, and
| can in no way control the prices at the
mine.
MIR. Spencer said in response to q
| question as to price regulation that
the matter rested now th the Fedora!
authorities and the authorities of Penn.
sylvania. Asked concerning the rumoret
increase of 81 a ton in the mine price
OF anthracite, Mr.. Spencer said, 81
haven't heard it and / don't believe
| It,"
yesterday announced the result Of sur
on hand for municipal purposes ii
forty-seven upstate cities. This sur
vey showed that in practically every
instance the cities had only a fraction
of the coal required for their winte,
needs. Albany reported that it. had SO
tens of anthracite on hand to meet re
quirements of 1888 tons; Binshamton
Loaf as against 1878 needed; Niagar;
Falls, 400 tons to meet requirements O
3,547, and Troy, 401 tons, as aeains
5,b01 needed. Figures Tor New Yorl
City arc not yet available.
County Distributors Named
Earlier in the day Arthur S. Learoyd
coal distributor for greater New Yorl
and Long Island, announced the ap
pointment of county distributors t.
serve under him. Those appointed ar
Alex J. Fraser, Stephens Fuel Com
EdHy, GGV EaSC IooCn SCreGC, Ior GrOn.
County; George j. Eltz, Coal Mer
C ants Association, 80 West Street, il
charge of Manhattan; Samuel Drum
mond, Brooklyn Coal Exchange, il
charge of Kings and Queens counties
Edward Schmidt, Long Island Dealers
Association, for Nassau and Suffol
counties, and w. Edward Cannon il
charge Of Richmond.
Governor Edwards of New Jersey
following meeting of the New Jerse,
State Coal Comm ssion in Jersey City
said thot the state would fight the Il!
per cent tax imposed by the State Q
Aennsy.van.a on ali coal sca.es. GOV
ernor Edwards said that the consti
tutionality Of the Pennsylvania la,
be carried to the United States Su
| preme Court.