The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-07-24
Secretary Hoover Will Meet
Operators This Morning
Fuel for Essential lnstitu-
tions and Fair Price Level
To Be Sought By Coopera-
ton.

Washington. July cl.-tRy The As
sociated PressD-Operators from tho
coal producing districts Of stN states
will be asked tomorrow by Secretary
Hoover 10 cooperate with the govern
ment and the railroads in plans 10 in
sure the distribution Of fuel 10 the car
riers and public utilities and 70 pre-
vent profiteering during the strike en-
ergency.
All angles Of Mr.. Hoover's scheme,
which contempiates the formation OF
a central committee to operate through
local committees in the producing dis
tricts OF Virginia, West Virginia. Ten
nessee, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and
Alabama, were threshed out today a
a series Of conferences of tho federal
agencies involved Before the opening
OF the meeting at ten O'Clock tomorrow
morning. Mr.. Hoover Will have from At
torney General DauEherty, report on
the powers accruins TO the government
IN the emergency through the cc>cpera-
ton OF the interstate commerce COM
mission and its authority under the law
regulating interstate commerce.
The Hoover Plan.
In general Mr. Hoover's program was
understood TO contemplate the creation
OF an emergency machine with the COM
mittee composed OF representative
from the departments Of commerce.
Justice and the interstate commerce
commission with the commerce secre.
tary as chairman. operating through
the local committees established In the
producing districts at the time Of the
voluntary agreements fixing maximum
fair prices.
Preferential system
Pooling OF coal in tho producing dis
tricts and distribution Of cars under
preferential system to the institution
under any OF tho interstate commerce
commission Is planned to permit OF the
marshalling OF fuel at the most avail
able points for quick shipment TO the
destinations where most needed. Co.
operation between tho railroads and the
Interstate commerce commission would
make possible adequate supply OF cars
and establishment OF freight enbargoes
II necessary. to facilitate fuel move
ment
Representative or the operators and
the railroads are 10 be drafted into
service as administrative aids - the
central committee 10 provide d.rect coa-
tact with those industries
Seek Pair Price Level
Price maintenance is to he sought
I through efforts TO obtain a more geL-
eral observance on the part Of small
operators Of the voluntary price agree
ments already in force and by Coope-a-
ton on the part OF the railroads TO pre-
! vent competitive bidding sending coal
| prices skyward.
While Mr. Hoover's scheme was de-
! elared to be based on the cooperation
| OF the parties at interest IN continuing &
| the distribution Of coal. the authority
OF interstate commerce commission to
act In emergency in behalf OF the in
terstate commedce was held 70 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 program, should cooperative efforts
In any district fall short.
| Order Of Preference
Primarily, Mr.. Hoover has indicated
Insurance Of coal supplies 70 the rail-
roads Is the object Of distribution
schemes. with industries producing ne
cessities. public utilities and similar
consumers TO be taken care Of as their
J needS become imperative. Whlie az the
same time the fueA requirements OF the
New England states and the Great
| Lakes region are TO be met.
! Believe Plan Practical
High officials expressed the belief to-
day that the plan would work automat :
lcally TO prevent undue price advances
and enable the desired fuel distribution
Shorn OF It's legal commonalitv and
technical!ties, II was explained. the
plan would enable the interstate com
merce commission with it's duly constt.
tuted authority to hold the whip-hand
over the coal producing fields. Should
prices advance unduly in any locality
Il was asserted. the commission could
withhold coal ALLEGATION until prices re.
turned TO levels In proportion to the
other districts while coal once loaded
could be given the right OF way over
all other trafhc for IN, M cd a,n Oh n n, N