Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-09
A|NEY AND HOOVER
TOCONFER ON COAL
Chairman Of Governors Com.
mission Won't Comment on
Situation Now
LEAVES FOR WASHINGTON

Following announccen. of Governor
commission working under the direc-
ton of Secretary Hoo.er and Fuel Con-
troll"r Spencer. William D. B. Ainey,
head of tho Public Service Commission
and chairman Of the newly appointed
body. left here today for conference
with Secretary Hoover in Washington.
Before he left the Bellevue Stratford
Mr.. Ancy was asked what would be
the first step Of the new commission.
"lt is entirely up to the Governor,
he said. but It is certain that when
return from Washington I shall call
meeting of the members of the commits
sion. Until that time | have nothing
to say"
Mr.. Ainey refused to comment on the
increased production in the coal fields of
, the state or what action would be taken
! by IN" commission to prevent the pyra-
mding of sales of coal by speculators,
! a state that existed during the last
coal crisis.
Before leaving the city Mr.. Aincy
notified the members Of the commission
thnt the first meeting will be held FRI
day At = q clock in the Chamber of Com
mcrcc Building.
! The members of the PENNSYLVANIA
commission, besides Mr.. Ainey, are:
James 5. Benn. member of the
! Pennsylvania Public Service Commits.
sion, in charge Of its priority functions,
who has been in touch with the work
at Washington.
/ William W. Furcy. president of the
Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce.
Edgar {. FELTON,. Of Haverford who
served in the Council CT National De-
fense.
Hugh A. Dawson. of Scranton
5. B. Crowell, Of PHILADELPHIA, prosi.
dent of the Pennsylvania Retail Coal
Merchants Association.
William J. Stern, former Mayor Of
Erie, business man who was nsso-
c!ated with the Fuel Administration
during the war
The Governor statement follows in
part:
"Whii" we all hope that the sus.
pension of operations in a large pro.
portion of the coal l-producing area of
the state will soon end and that n
satisfactory agreement will bO reached
between the operators an0 miners, the
fact remains that if mining were 10 he
resumed today the best efforts of all
concerned would not avert the shortage
Of coal, which Is already hampering
the industries Of the State and which
must soon work hardship upon domes, tic
consumers.
The question Of distribution of fuel
and of priority for essential puh-
lie utilities and industry are more
complicated here than elsewhere. Durin,
the last period Of fuel administration
much hardship was worked upon ou,
people BY III" diversion of a very larg,
proportion OF pennsylvania S coal pro
duction to the other less favored sec
tions. Through system Of pyramidln,
sales extortionatc prices were demando,
} and received by SPECTATORS in the fue
necessary for keeping the industries on
Grating and homes comfortable in Penn
syivania.
Il shall suggest TO the commission
that special committee upon dis
tr!bution be appointed by them, con,
: sistng of men thoroughly familiar witl
the routes Of coal transportation, tn,
l needs of the people and the market con
ditOns throughout the State
Il have IN mind for the consideratio,
p Of the commission as members of tn
t Coal Distribution Committee, such inc,
as John g. Cameron, Of Pittsburgh, wh
: served most nCCeptably in the last cmer
gency; John S. w. ilolton, president o
the lhllhuelphla Maritime Exchange
, Charles Oneil, of Altoona, secretary o
} the Central Pennsylvania Operators
Association; Frank b. Miller, O
Z Grcensburg, who Is versed in the dis
tribution Of high volatile and gas coal
Howard Perrin, of Philadelphia Wei
, lngton NJ Bertolet, Esq, of Reading
II who is familiar with the retail trad
n throughout the State; f.. w. Parker, q
h Philadelphia, director of the Anthra
cite Bureau; w. j. Thompson, sec
= retary Of the Anthracite Producers
o Association, with Offices in Philadel
y phia, and such others as may be nee
y essary.
"As there are no public funds avail
n able for this emergency plan, It wi
probably be necessary to make sma
distribution charge Of perhaps tN
S cents per ton 10 cover the costs Of IL
coal administration within the State" "