New-York tribune., 1922-08-20
Harding Fayors
Inquiry on Coal
By Pllblic Only
S-Man Commission, With
ont Operators or Miners
Having Place, Said To Be
Administration Program,
Borah Measure Is Basis
New Fair Price Maximum
ofS4.5O Ton Expected To
BE Approved by Spencer

Fs4 ne Tytssnss ,rashsxston Bureau
w sHINGToN, Aug. 1s, President
ding plans to get behind che Sorsh
n spssaayiding for commission to IN
~ The ccai industry With view
,nent coal control legislation,
said at the Capitol to-day.
ens Harding and Senator Berah
4 Ia talk over the telephone. and as
result it is the understanding that,
y ith some notifications, the President
Is prepared to back the Bcrsh measure.
President Harding, In i,is message to
Congress, came out in favor of COM
mission to investigate the coal indus
Fry with view to making report and
Recommendation en- permanent segis-
sation fer control. Senator Berah al
ready had = bill in for such com
mission and had talked with the Presi-
dent about it. The Borah measure pro-
Noses a commission of three, on which
both miners and operators, as yell az
the public, shall each have one repre-
sentative.
President Harding believes the bill
should be changed to provide for .
eoaaission composed only Of ave puh-
lie members. Senator BoYah Is willing
ether alterations TO harmonizs NTH tie
Administssticn's views.
The bill is now before the Senate
Education and Labor COMMITTEES. Mr.
Eorah will press fer an early report,
but does not expect TO get it before
the soldiers bonus zaeasure ts voted on.
The proposed commission plan does
nat meet the question of emergency
legislation to effect distribution and
prevent profteering. This, it is under
stsed, will be dealt with in separate
bill.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 10 (By The As
sseiated Press).--Inrrsase of fair
sected by Federal coal efiiciais who in
dicated to-day that rs Governors of
tha various states recommended in
creased prices to meet changed cendi-
tions the necessary action would be
taken by Director Spencer.
Pending enactment Of legislation as
suggested 70 Congress by President
derdsng 7or the creation of Federal
coal purchasing agency, some officials
bslieve that volunteer fair prices prob
,ably will approximate $3.50 ton at
Che mines unless production resches 4
point where charges would drop auto
matieally.
Grain Ccntsei a Model
The coal purchasing agency to be
created by Congress 10 expected by
Administrations officials to take the
form Of the United States Grain Cor
poyatien, which controlled the prices
of grain during the war. Legal COM
plexities involved In the problem OF
peace time price control, officials be-
lieved, would be avoided by the I'd 3p-
tien Of such an expedient, as suticisnt
coal operators probably would be will
ing to cooperate with ths government
in maintaining price at which coal
would be sold to the corporation, which
weuld in tuEn fix the price for fuel in
interstate commerce.
Similarly it was thought the various
states could set up like agencies for
the nsaintsn&nce OF fsir prices within
their boundaries for the coal produced
therein or received by way Of Federal
distribution.
Bitumineus coal production for the
pYesent week wks estimated to-day at
about 100000 tons By the Geological
Survey. There were 4,5TS,090 tons
mined last week.