Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-11-14
ASKS GOVERNORS TO
UNITE WITH HIM IN DRIVE FOR
LEGISLATION TO CUT COAL PRICE
Letters Sent to Exeeu-
tives of 20 S ia t e s
Using Hard Coal
Single Specific Pro-
gram Sought = Says
Has Such a Plan-TO
Outline 1t at Confer
ence in Harrisburg,
Nov. rs

Harrisburg. Pa, Nov. 13.-Gover-
nor Pinchot tonight sent letters. TO
the governors of twenty nine anthra-
cite consuming states inviting them
to a conference here November Is,
to consider a program of federal
legislation designed to reduce coal
prices.
Declaring :'justice to the great
body of anthracite consumers must
be reached mainly by national ,ac-
tion," the governor said such action
could be secured most certainly and
effectively" if the governors of the
anthracite consuming states unite in
a single specific program" he said
he was prepared to submit a sug-
gestion for such program and, In
Vited the governors here to consider
and, If it is found practicable, to
agree upon definite plan of Iegisla-
ton to be laid before congress at
the coming session.
Since the coal strike was settled
In september, have taken I'D the
question of price in a series of con-
1erences with the members of a
committee of the operators" the
governor wrote in part. "On Friday
last, this committee finally declined
to recommend to the coal industry
mat 1t should clean its own house
OF eXtortion, as / have been urging
it to do.
I'VE do not have to prove the ex-
!Stence of abuses in the anthracite
INDUSTRY or of crying injustice to the
consumer in eXtortionate prices.
They are matters of common knowI-
cage. 1t would have been merely the
most elementary common sense for
the committee of operators to take
, these evils in hand. Being the pro-
oucers or the coal. they have the
power to do so most effectively. They
have declined to do so. Then we
must turn elsewhere.
since the settlement of the coal
strlke and investigation of anthra-
cite prices have been in progress
al Harrisburg and has resulted in
the outline of a definite plan for
national legislation and for state
action.
About ninety per cent of the an
thracite mined in Pennsylvania is
burned In other states. Therefore
JuetAIe u the great body of anthra-
cite consumers must be reached
mainly by national action. Such ac-
tion can be secured most effectively
II the governors of the anthracite
using states will unite in support OF
single specific program.
am prepared to submit a sur-
sesuon for such a program, and I
am asking the. governors of the an
tnracite consuming states to meet.
either in person or by representative
IN the governors Office at Harris.
Durg on Monday, November 26. at
Z.00 T.: NJ, to consider this program
ana If 1t is found practicable to
agree upon "a definite plan of Iegisla
ton to be laid before congress al 7the
coming session.
The letter. it was announced !,
the governors Office, was sent to the
cnlet executives of Connecticut
Rhode Island, Vermont, New York
Maine, New Hampshire, New Ter
Sey' Maryland, Delaware, Virginia
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas. ken
lucky, Louisiana, Michigan. Mime
sofa. Missouri, Nebraska. North
carolina, North Dakota, South Caro-
lima, Tennessee. Texas. Wisconsin,
Alabama, Massachusetts and West
Virginia.