The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-25
Former Vice President Thomas R. Marshall, John
 Hayes Hammond and Clark Howell Will Arrive in Bir- mingham March ' for Probe
COAL COMMISSION IS SURVEYING THE INDUSTRY
Government Officials Will Spend Two or Three Days in
 Birmingham and Will Seek Facts From All Sides and All Sources About Mining

The coal mining industry and all conditions incident and collater- al to this industry in the Birming- ham district are to be made the subject of searching inquiry. At meeting of the federal coal com mission, former Vice President Thomas R. Marshall, Clark Howell of Atlanta, members, and John Hays Hammond, chairman of the commission, were assigned the duty of making this investigation and they will reach Birmingham the evening of March T, remaining here for two or three days.
 The remaining three members of the commission will at the same time go to the Oklahoma and Texas coal fields for the purpose of mak- ing a similar investigation. It was largely due to the personal visitation and efforts of Mr. Ham mond and the other members of the coal commission that the recent difficulties in the northern coal fields were settled by the adoption of the New York agreement fixing the wage scale agreed to by the unions and the operators of three states.
 Is Fact-Finding Body.
 The federal coal commission is understood to be primarily and fun damentally a fact-finding body. Their task is to assemble all possible facts and information regarding the coal industry for guidance in getting more satisfactory conditions. The prominence of the members is an indication of the importance the gov ernment attaches to their work.
 The three members who are com ing to Birmingham are all men with nationwide reputation. MT. Ham mond Is looked upon as one of the country's most able engineers. The former vice president, MT. Marshall, is a recognized authority on both academic and practical features of industrys problems. Clark Howell, head of the Atlanta Constitution, has occupied many posts of public trust
 
 member of the board of directors of the Associated Press have given him peculiarly close insight into public questions of all kinds
 When the members of the commits sion reach Birmingham it is ex- pected that they will seek informs- tion from every possible source re- garding conditions in the coal in- dustry of the Birmingham mineral district. Their survey will cover the matter of wages paid. working con- ditions, prices charged the consumer, profits of the operators, car supply in so far as it affects the efficiency of production and distribution and any other facts which will have q bearing on ultimate harmonizing of differences. They will probably call before them representatives of the United Mine Workers, including J. R. Kennamer, president of the district union. They will also most likely seek information from unor- ganized miners as to their -Yages. their living conditions, how well they are satisfied and whether they have complaints that should be remedled. Coal operators themselves will also be called upon for such information as they can supply bearing upon the general subject.
 o o O
 MDy Call on Consumers.
 Consumers may be asked to present their side of the case. The domestic coal situation will probably be looked into in order that it may be deter mined whether adequate supply is being given by the mines and whether the prices are just. They may also go into the matter of comparative prices at the various mines.
 That the commission will be well eomed in Birmingham is taken for granted not only because of the per sonnel but because all sides will be eager to contribute their part in sup plying the visitors with the facts they seek regarding one of the states greatest industries.