Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-18
STATE COAL PRICE
TO Be FIXED TODAY
Fuel Commission Meets in Har-
risburg to Combat Effort
to Raise Cost
SIS A TON ASKED FOR PEA

Plans to prevent any increase in the
cost Of coal and to provide for euuit-
able distribution will be discussed to-
day at meeting Of the Fuel Commits
sion In Harrisburg.
Reports have been received by the
commission that retailers in Philadel-
phia md other places are now selling
pea coal at S1j ton. or $3.50 more
than the price charged before the strike.
w. u. y. Aincy. chairman Of tho
commission, declared today TINT the re-
tnilcrs would not be permitted to reap
greater profit than in March: He is
supported in this stand by Governor
Sproul. who declared that nc would
back up the commission to the limit.
Members Of the commission say there
is evidence that operators ana retailers
are endeavoring to saddle the cost OF the
strike on househOlders. They. contend
that any loss incident to the long
drawn .out controversy should be borne
by those responsible for It.
Plans for. enforcing. the rulings OF
the commission will also be discussed
today. A survey Of the anthracite Sec
ton has been made and will be pre-
sented in report in this city on
Thursday when representatives OF the
Fuel Commission will meet at the Bel
levue- -Stratford.
Specific Proof Of Charges
Specific proof that some dealers are
selling pea coal at an increase OF ~
above the March price was obtained
yesterday from residents of Delaware
County who have been solicited to buy
SIS pea coal and from others who.
threatened with n shortage and possible
inability TO get fuel later. have laid
in supplies of the black diamonds.
According to the information given
by houscholderS. the coal Is being sup
piled by n Philadelphia retailer. but
most of it IS delivered in wagons bear
ing no name or identifying signs. Orders
are taken by solicitors. who tell frhr,u!
stories of the hard winter ahead and
the alleged utter inabi lity OF the miners
to produce enough coal to meet the de-
mand.
In contrast to those assertions the
public has the official statement of the
PENNSYLVANIA Fuel Commission. issue
by authority of the entire membership
over the signature Of w. ID. Is. Ainey.
chnirman, that there will not be 4
shortage Of coal in Pennsylvania. That
statement was put out two weeks ago
when prospects for an adequate supply
were far less bright than they are now.
The kiting of prices to levels pre-
viously unheard of in this vicinity.
hundred miles down hiIl from the mines.
came while the Fuel Commission was
reiterating its irtention not to permit
profiteering.
Hoover to he Here Thursday \
The margin of profit Obtained last
March was on the average 81 .1G ton
higher than the gross margin granted
the retailers by Or. Harry A. Garfield
when he was Federal Fuel Commis-
.i0ner during the war. His figure Of
Sc. 80 ron gross margin was bitterly
attacked at the time by representatives
of the public as too high. II was said
to he at least fifty cents ton higher
than was necessary. but retailers con-
vinced him that the $3.50 figure should
be fixed.
Another meeting OF the PENNSYLVANIA
Commission to be held next Thursday
at the Bellevue 2tratfOrd with Federal
authorities. including Secretary Of
Commerce Herbert Hoover If the price
at the mines has not been definitely
settled by that time 1t is possible that
the Government may take hand, ut
least TO the extent of making sug-
ppStionS