Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-08-11
Failure to Cooperate With
Federal Fuel Organization
May Invoke Emergency Pow
ers of Interstate Commerce
Commission-Would With
hold Cars From Boosting
Group

Washington, Aug. 10-Use Of the
emergency powers of the Interstate
Commerce Commission to bring into
line coal operators who are failing to
cooperate with the federal fuel or
ganization in the control Of prices
was under consideration today by the
central coal committee
The governments defense against
prices advances above the maximum
charges agreed upon by producing
operators with Secretary Hoover was
declared to lie in the powers of the
Interstate Commerce Commission to
allocate coal cars so that mines boost
ing prices would be without trans
portation facilities.
Department of justice officials con-
nected with the federal fuel organ
lZatlon were said to have advised the
committee that the commission had
ample authority under the law TO so
diSlA ApdtC SdI , " tllS IIiiutS DIS 10 I'll =
fectively control their charges. The
question to be determined, it was I'M
derstood, was whether the COMMITS
sion would exercise these emergency
powers to their fullest extent. Dis
cussion of such step was said to
have been begun with the central
committee.
Alabama operators, Mr.. Hoover an
nounced today, have broken away
from the fair price agreements made
with him and, he added, Governor
kilby of Alabama will. be asked to
take steps to protect consumers in
that state against rising prices.
Operators in other districts are
showing signs Of slipping from their
stand with the fair price program, it
was said at the committee.
Inquiry is being made, Mr.. Hoover
said, as to what action the federal or
Ganlzaton can take in cases where
operators fail to cooperate in the
matter Of price control. In some
states, he said, organization against
pSofiteering is going forward vigor-
pusly, but in other states it has not
progressed as rapidly as desired.
The New England states and New
York, he asserted, We're taking care
OF the whole problem of emergency
fuel distribution vigorously
Railroad service out of the produc-
ing coal fields, he asserted, was stead
lily improving and car supply had i'm
proved steadily during the past two
tenn established by the federal organ
ization.
A plea for assistance in getting the
Anthracite coal producing regions
back to production was made today by
$. D. Warriner and W. J. Richards,
representing the general policy com
mittee Of all anthracite operators.
They were presented to President
Harding by Senator Pepper Of Penn
sylvania. Secretary Hoover and Chair
man Lasker of the shipping board
We're in the executive offices during
presentation, Mr.. Warrincr as chaiar-
man Of tho anthracite operators, told
the president that the resumption of
work in the anthracite region was be-
ing prevented solely because the min
ers' union and the bituminous coal op-
orators had been unable to agree on
wage scales.
He further said that the population
of the entire anthracite country was
now wearying Of having its industry
50 restricted and that it would prob
ably welcome any move that could be
made to separate the issues of the an
thracite wage controversy from that
if the bituminous.
The anthracite workers have accept
cd the presidents proposal to appoint
commission and arbitratc the differ
ences which have led to a suspension
Of work by the miners
While they did not ask the prcsi-
dent, Senator Pepper said, to appoint
the anthracite committee Immediately
the opening of the anthra cite repre-
sentatives was said to be that it's cs-
Enlistment at A very early moment
might help TO bring about conclu-
sion Of the work suspension.