The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-07-24
SECRETARY HOOVER HAS SCHEME
FOR COAL STRIKE EMERGENCY

Washington, July 24.--Operators
from the producing districts of six
states are in conference today with
Secretary Hoover and agreed in prin-
ciple with the administration plan for
maintaining prices, and msuring fuel
distribution durng the strike emergen-
cy. The legal phases were gwen the
approval of the Department of Justice
in the opinion sent to Hoover by
Daugherty, while the conference was
in session.
Washington, July 24.-The bitumi-
nous coal operators representing the
president of the producing districts in
the six states gathered here today at
the call of Secretary Hoover who
sought cooperation in the administra-
ton of coal distribution scheme de-
signed to protect the railroads and
public utilities and other necessary in
dustries against the shortage and to
prevent profiteering.
Hoover and Attorney General
Daugherty held a conference prior to
formers meeting with operators, pre-
sumably on local phase of the coal dis
tribution plan.
Washington, July % (By the Asso-
ciated Press) s).-Operators from the
coal producing districts of six states
will be asked tomorrow by Secretary
Hoover to cooperate with the gov
ernment and the railroads in a plan
to insure the distribution of fuel to
the carriers and public utilities and
to prevent profiteering during the
strike emergency. All angels Of Mr..
Iioover's scheme, which contemplates
the formation of central producing
committee to operate through local
cmmittees in the producing districts
of Virginia, West Virginia, Tennes-
see, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Ala
5ama, were threshed out today at
series of conferences of the federal
AScncies involved. Before the open
ing of the meeting tomorrow Mr..
HooSc cr will have from Attorney Cen
cral Daugherty report on the pow
ers accruing to the government in
the emergency through the coopera-
ton of the interstate commerce COM
mission and its authority under the
low regulating interstate commerce.
! In general Mr.. Hoover's program
was understood to contemplate the
creation of an emergency machine
with the committee composed of
representative from the departments
of commerce, justice, interior and the
! interstate commerce commission with
the commerce secretary as chairman,
operating through the local commit
tees established in the producing dis
tricts at the time of the voluntary
agreements fixing maximum prices.
! Pooling of coal in the producing
districts and the distribution of cars
under preferential system to be in
stituted under authority of the inter
state commerce commission is plan
ned to permit of the marshalling of
fuel at the most available points for
! quick shipment to the destinations
where most needed. Cooperation be-
tween the railroads and the interstate
commerce commission would make
possible adequate supply of cars and
| establishment of freight embarCocS,
if necessary, to facilitate fuel move
ments.
Representatives of the operators
and the railroads are TO be drafted
into service as administrative aids 70
the central committee to provide d'-
rect contact with these industries.
Price maintenance is to be- sought
through efforts to obtain a more gen
eral observance on the part of small
operators Of the voluntary price
agreements already in force and by
cooperation on the part of the rail-
roads to prevent competitive bidding
sending coal prices skyward.
While Mr.. Hoover's scheme was dc
) clared TO be based on the cooperation
, of the parties interested in continu-
ing the distribution of coal, the au-
d, thority of the interstate commerce
, commission act in emergency in
+ behalf of interstate commerce was
held to be the governments trump
; card To this end appointment OF
, representatives Of the commission to
| local committees was considered as
enabling the operation of the pro-
gram should cooperative efforts in
any district fall short.
Primarily, Mr.. Hoover has indicat-
cd, insurance of coal supplies to the
railroads is the object of the distribu-
ton scheme, with industries produc.
ing necessities, public utilities and
-. 41 Ln tnLo