Evening star., 1923-09-11
GUARD COAL USERS,
COOLIDGE ORDERS
FUEL commission
Education of Public to Deal
With Profiteers or Price
Fixing in Prospect.

President Coolidge has instructed
the United Sttaes Coal Commission to
do all in it's power to bring about a
distribution OF coal to the consuming
public at a reasonable price, it was
said at the White House today.
These instructions were given soma
time ago and prior to the receipt OF
the letter from Gov Pinchot urging
that the federal government take
steps to prevent prphteering in an
thracite
dealing with the coal strike sftua-
tiou. One looks to the edteation OF
anthracite consuming communities to
help them deal with profiteering deal
ers. The other looks to price fixing
by the government.
LesIslntion Mny he Needed.
The first course Is open to the gov
ernment without further legislation.
The United States Coal Commission
has the data at hand. and 1t is un-
derstood that 1T is to be used for this
purpose. .'''''''
The second course, looking to price
fixing. could not be followed without
legislation by Congress, which does
not meet until December unless called
into special session by the President.
The government, through the coal
commission, is in a position to tell
the consuming public what the costs
of coal at the mines are, what the
costs of transportation are and the
49, - II
and retailer, and the margin Of profit
to all the handlers of coal. 1t is un-
derstood that reports by the coal
commission giving this data will be
made to the President within a few
days, and that this informa tion in
turn will be transmitted to the pub
lie. '....'..
Rate Inquiry Ordered.
BY request of the coal commission,
made weeks ago, the Interstate Com
merce Commission has ordered an in
yestigation of anthracite freight
rates. Hearings are to be held in
Pittsburgh September "a before the
commissions representative there, w.
A. Disque. Similar hearings are to be
held at other distributing points.
President Coolidge has sent to Gov
Pinchot a telegram congratulating
the governor upon the successful ter
mination of the anthracite strike
through the mediation of the governor.
The text of the telegram was not
made public at the White House, ii
being explained that it is customary
not to publish such messages, but
that it might be given out by Gov.
Pinohot.
Gov. Pinchot was acting at the sue-
gestion of the President in calling
the miners and operators together in
Harrisburg. and in full cooperation
with the federal government.
Commission Expires September 20.
The life of the coal commission ex-
pires September %, but If occasion
obtain the service and advice of the
commissioners, 1t was said at the
White House today, the President
may. call them into conference un-
The office of federal fuel distribu-
tor, now held by Francis R. Wad-
leigh, also expires this month. II
there was shortage of coal and
an agency were needed to bring
about an equable distribution, Mr..
Wadleigh would be called upon to
act for the government 1t was said,
either under the Jurisdiction of the
of Commerce or of the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
But no such shortage OF fuel is now
expected.
VIII Commend Report.
The President will comm end the
and recommendations of the
Coal Commission to Congress when
that body convenes in December, 1t
was said by a spokesman. for the
President at the White House today
The President feels that the commits
sion was created particularly to aid
Congress in framing Legislation deal
ing with the coal industry and that
the work of the commission will be
OF great value to the Legislative body
Tne states and communities using
once they have before
them all the data relating to costs of
production and distribution of coal,
will be in a position to enact legisla-
tion and frame regulations to meet
any exorbitant increases in prices
that may be asked, it was said today
So far as the District of Columbia is
the federal government,
which rules here, is in a position to
act. But in Boston, New York and
other cities the federal government
has no such power. and the local au-
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