Indiana daily times., 1922-05-19
COAL INDUSTRY
JOINS IN PLAN
TO FIX PRICES
Burden of Responsibility Put
Up to Operators by Secre-
tary Hoover.
ACTION is VOLUNTARY

Special to Indiana Daily Times
and Philadelphia Public Ledger
WASHINGTON, May 19.-Preliminary
steps taken by the Harding Administra-
tion to protect the public and industry
from profiteering in coal prices during
the national strike emergency, met with
the approval of some fifty Of the leading
operators in non union ,bituminous coal
fields, who were called into conferences
by Secretary Hoover. The plan proposed
by Mr. Hoover puts the burden OF price
regulation and prevention OF profiteering
squarely ur to the operators and would
result in virtual ALLEGATION OF orders oy
the operators, working in connection with
Government officials.
In addressing the operators, MI.
Hoover did not mince words. While he
made it clear that there is no law to pre-
vent profteering and that any action on
the part Of the operators would be purely
voluntary, he made 1t equally clear that
"the situation is loaded with dynamite =
He advised the operators to take steps to
curb gouging or. he warned them the
public would force restrictions upon the
coal industry that would take twenty
five years to shake on.
WILL PRESENT PLAN
TO DAUGHERTY.
Mr.. Hoover announced following the
meeting, that a general conference OF
operators now producing coal will be
called to meet in Washington at an early
date to consider this plan for the better
coordination Of coal distribution and the
prevention Of proiteering. Meanwhile
the plan, which was adopted by the oper-
ators, will be presented to Attorney Gen
~eral Daugherty who will pass on the
gality of the proposal.
The plan contemplates the establish
ment Of standing committee, composed
OF Government representatives and oper-
ators, to sit in Washington to advise upon
the coordination of coal distribution be-
tween districts. This committee Is de-
signed as clearing house for information
obtained by the committees set up In each
of the districts. The district committees
are expected to check any tendency Of
price boosting at the mines, stop COM
petitive bidding on the part Of consumers
and insure continuous supply OF coal to
the industries.
TO UNDERTAKE
DIRECT PIsn-sREss.
The various committees will be ex-
pected to take measures to assure direct
progress Of coal to the consumer from
the mines, to prevent pyramiding OF
prices. Mr.. Hoover also suggested that
efforts should be made by the railroads,
public utilities and large consumers OF
coal, such as the steel industry to make
their coal purchases through committees
appointed for that purpose
Finally, the preliminary conference
recommended that the coal prices. put In
to effect by DIR. Harry A. Garfield,
director Of the fuel administration during
the war and the coal strike of 1919,
should be made the basis for computing
sales prices. These prices will. Of course.
be subject to such adjustments as are
necessary to meet changed conditions as
to labor costs and other factors, as will
be fair to the public and the operators.
In making this recommendation Mr..
Hoover said he realized that many opera
tors are paying the 1920 wage scale. but
he said he did not think the increase
~ price, already In effect, In many dis
let's, were justifed.-Copyright. 1872,
By Public Ledger Company.