The Ogden Standard Examiner

HARDING
AND
HOOVER
IN CONFERENCE

PRESIDENT TO
WAIT 10 DAYS
IN COAL CASE

If Mining Is Not Be-
gun He Will Take
Drastic Steps

SUPPLY IS SURVEYED
Hoover Works on Program
for Emergency Fuel
Distribution

WASHINGTON, July
22—While
pledged to wait for ten days or two
according to present indica-
tions to test the success of efforts to
resume production
at
bituminous
mines
before adopting
any
drastic
measures
regarding the coal strike, the
administration in the meantime today
finished its plans for distribution of
the
dwindling coal supply to in-
crease operation of the rail-
roads
and essential industries.
With present stocks of coal, there
is
no undue risk of an industrial
shutdown, officials are convinced, by
waiting
a fortnight to develop the
response to President Harding's invi-
tation
to resume operations, and the
administration in the meantime may con-
sider
the next steps to be taken should
the
effort fail. What these steps
may
be was the subject of prolong-
ed
discussion at Friday's cabinet meet-
ing without, it was understood,
definite formulation of policy at
this stage.
The
proposed plan for coal distribu-
tion
as well as the formulation of a
program
designed to restrain profiteering
was
discussed at a meeting called
for
next Monday by Secretary Hoov-
er
with
representatives of the various
states
now producing coal.

HOPELESSLY DEADLOCKED.

While all three parties to the recent
conferences in Washington—the gov-
ernment, operators and union—seem
satisfied that the situation, as it
stands, was hopelessly deadlocked.
No
move for restoration of peace
in coal fields was seen in the res-
olution
introduced in the senate by
Senator
King, Democrat, Utah, who
proposed creation of a commission of
five
to
investigate both sides of the
controversy and report its findings. No
provision was made in the resolution
for
enforcing the findings made by the
commission, but Mr. King expressed
the
opinion that such a body, set up
by
legislative action, would have
greater
authority than did the confer-
ence
requested by the president.
A
survey of remaining coal stocks
is said to have convinced adminis-
tration
officials that these were suf-
ficient
to permit a fortnight of wait-
ing
to develop the response to the
presidential invitation to the oper-
ators
to resume operations without op-
ening unduly danger of industrial
shutdown without lack of fuel

HOOVER'S PROGRAM.

Secretary
Hoover's program
for
emergen-
cy
distribution was said to contem-
plate
the
organization of a
central
committee here which would work
through local committees in the
various coal producing sections.
Plans have been formulated, Mr.
Hoover
said, for co-operation of the
Department of Commerce and the In-
terstate
Commerce
Commission and
the
Department of Justice by which,
through
the co-operation of responsible
operators, the control of price and
distribution can be effected. The plan
is now before the department of jus-
tice
for their consideration and it in-
volves
the pooling of coal in each dis-
trict
and the distribution of cars un-
der
the authority and direction of the
railroad
administration, with the co-operation of
operators' committees.
Power of the government
to
act
with the interstate commerce com-
mission
under the interstate commerce
law
which was understood to be the
point before the justice depart-
ment
which is the effective force of
government.

Administration's emergency
coal

CHECK ON PRICES.

With the coal in each producing dis-
trict
pooled, it was believed
that the
committee
could
better
direct the
distribution of fuel to
such the assignment
facilitate coal movement
orders from the
commission which
are
no at the
interstate
remedy
points
same
commission
car
and
government by pri-
vate
keeping a check
on
undue
price
advances. There were strong
indications in ad-
ministration circles
that the
expected resumption
of coal being
produced in the
non-union fields
that the
govern-
ment
would rely
solely on the distribution
of coal
from non-union fields and necessary
money.
being produced in
to supply the
consumers

The aim of the
administration it
was
understood,
to supply
sufficient fuel to keep the whole
country's
transportation system
running and then
to
enable the distribution of coal to
essential industries,
bearing in mind
to
the other most
urgent needs of the northwest and New
England states.

BREAK DOWN LOOMS.

There
has been
evidence that the
plan
already ad-
opted for restraint of
prices to
the
Garfield
basis,

(Continued on Page Two.)
WATCHING COAL
STRIKE 10 DAYS
(Continued from Page One)
threatens to break down, Mr. Hoover said.

Plans will be discussed at the Monday conference, he said, for making the voluntary restraint of profiteering effective in the one or two districts which have refused to co-operate and are now demanding $7.50 a ton for coal at the mine, and further to make it effective against the minority of irresponsible operators in the other districts who have broken away from the agreement.

The responsible operators are holding to the price," Mr. Hoover continued. "on the other hand, some panicky railway buyers and others are sending out orders today offering $8 at the mines."

oo