Executive Order 2903

by President of the United States

Whereas, in order to avoid duplication of effort and to promote unity and concentration of control in the administration of the provisions of Section 25 of the Act of Congress approved August 10, 1917, entitled, "An Act to provide further for the national security and defense by encouraging the production, conserving the supply, and controlling the distribution of food products and fuel," certain activities now being carried on by the Federal Trade Commission relating to the coal industry can and ought to be carried on by the United States Fuel Administration.

Now, therefore, I, Woodrow Wilson. President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Chief Executive, and by virtue of the powers conferred on me by the Act of Congress, entitled, "An Act authorizing the President to coordinate or consolidate executive bureaus, agencies and offices, and for other purposes, in the interest of economy and the more efficient concentration of the Government," approved May 20, 1918, do hereby order and direct:

1. That all records, files, reports, copies of contracts, correspondence, papers and proceedings on file or deposited with the Federal Trade Commission relating to coal or coke, and under and in compliance with the provisions of Section 25 of said Act approved August 10, 1917, or the orders, rules and regulations of the United States Fuel Administrator (excepting such as relate to costs of coal mine operations and to general research into the coal industry), be transferred forthwith from the Federal Trade Commission to the United States Fuel Administration.
2. That that part of the personnel of the Federal Trade Commission engaged in such activities hereinabove described and now transferred is hereby detailed or assigned to the United States Fuel Administration.
3. That the books, correspondence, records, and papers in any way referring to transactions of any kind relating to the mining, production, sale or distribution of coal or coke, and not hereby transferred, shall, at all times, be subject to inspection by the United States Fuel Administrator and by his duly authorized agents, examiners, employees, assistants and subordinates, together constituting the governmental organization called the United States Fuel Administration.
4. That all persons, partnerships and corporations engaged in the production or distribution of coal or coke shall promptly furnish, whenever called for, to the United States Fuel Administrator, or his duly authorized agents, examiners, employees, assistants and subordinates, any data or information relating to the business of such persons, partnerships or corporations engaged in the production or distribution of coal or coke.
5. That the said United States Fuel Administrator is hereby authorized to procure information in reference to the business of coal-and coke producers and distributors in the manner provided for in Sections 6 and 9 of the Act of Congress approved September 26, 1914, entitled "An Act to create a Federal Trade Commission, to define its powers and duties, and for other purposes," and said United States Fuel Administration, acting through the United States Fuel Administrator, or his duly authorized agents, examiners, employees, assistants and subordinates, is hereby authorized and empowered to exercise all the powers granted to the Federal Trade Commission by said Act approved September 26, 1914, for the carrying out of the purposes of this order.

This order shall be, and remain, in full force and effect during the continuance of the present war and for six (6) months after the termination thereof by the proclamation of a Treaty of Peace or until amended, modified or rescinded.

Woodrow Wilson 

The White House,

July 3, 1918.