Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-08-20
ASKS OHIO TO PROTECT
PUBLIC ON COAL PRICES
Hoover Says Mine Operators
Will Welcome Voluntary
Arrangement.
SELLING At 81 TO $40 a roN
UTILITIES In state Seek To nuy Their
tuei From the Southern Eicld.
where II Sells Much Chcapcr-Mny
Set $3.50 ns Price.
rBy Associated press j


WASHINGTON Aug. la-lumcsi-
ate action for the proper protection
81 ;ha 5>:h!:c 81 the price of conf
produced IN Ohio was asked OF Gov
ernor II. =. Davis today hv Secretary
Hoover In a telegram to tn, Ohio
Governor the Commerce Secretary
declared that coal operators in that
state would welcome some sort Of
voluntary arrangement for establish
ms fair prices In Ohio.
Il am informed" Mr. Hoover said
mat coal mines now opening under
the cleveland aerccmcn, in ohio nro
demanding from s. to $40 a ton for
COAL In the meantime the public
utilities of Ohio are asking us for
priority orders asains, Southern
heldk. where the price Is s35n You
VII! recognize Tint in this situation.
we are 10 give priorities as re-
Guestcd. IL would no; be Just either
TO the operators. or to persons in
great need Of coal in other states in
view or the additional supplies in
Ohio"
Mr. Hoover recalled that under the
garfield seal" the average price for
run-of- thc-minc coal in the Pitts
hurSh district was about $3.50 a ton.
nut added that the recent wage scale
-
BASIS Of pay at the time the Garfield
scale was fixed. However. he added
IN Kentucky, wherc sA50 a ton has
been allowed as a maximum fair
price production. costs are higher
than in OHIO
West Virginia was brourh, into
Inc with Kentucky prices today by
Federal Fuel Distributor Spencor
who allowed coal operators In that
stat" maximum OF s. 80 a ton n,
tho minc. The previous fair price
prevailing in that state was abou,
$3.50. but Governor T.. y. Morcan Of
West Virginia, suggested tn. in.
crease 10 meet the new WACO scale
agreements and accelerate produc.
ton.
Further Increases OF talr-pricc
ma1!mums to the new Ss5O-a.ton
level were expected by Federal coal
oihcia!s. who indicated that as Gov
ornors OF the various States recon-
mended increased prices to meet
changed conditions. the necessary &C
tlon would be taken BY Mr. Spencer
Pending enactment or Legislation
as suggested to Congress by Prcsi-
dent Harding for the creation OF
Federal coal purchasing agency.
some officials believe that volunteer
fair prices probably will approxi-
mate about $3.50 ton at the mines
unless production reaches point
where charges would drop automati-
cally.
The coal-produc!ns agency to be
created by Congress- Is expected hy
administration officials to take the
form OF the United statues Grain,
Corporation. which controlled the
vrtces OF grain during The war. Legal
complexities involved in the problem
OF peaco-t!mc price control. officials
believed. would be avoided by tho
adoption OF such an cxpedicnt. a,
SuMcient coal operators probably
would be willing TO cooperate with
IN" government IN maintaining
price at which coal would be sold TO
the corporation. which would In turn
NIX the price for fuel In Interstate
commerce.
similarly. II was thought. the va
r-"us states could set up like
- cncies for tho maintenance OF fatr
4 ices within their boundaries for the
cAu produced there or received By
way OF Federal distribution.