New-York tribune., 1917-07-21
Say Price Rise
Is Without Excuse
Final Vote on Food Bill to
Come Before Adjourn
ment To-day
tFrom the Tribuse Bureaul

cipally around coal and wheat. Sen
ator James Hamilton Lewis, of Illinois
declared that the coal mines Of the
country must be taken over by the gov,
ernment and operated as public util
ity, asserting that in no other way
could there be any real relief from the
present serious situation.
This view was also expressed by Sen
ator Cummins, who declared that un.
less some drastic measures were
adopted portions Of the country would
be without coal during the coming
winter. The Iowa Senator was in favor
of seizing the mines.
The coal discussion hinged on ar
amendment introduced by Senator Pom.
creme, of Ohio, taking out of the hands
Of the commission of three named ir
the food control bill the control o.
"coal and coke" and placing it in the
hands of separate tribunal, preferably
the Federal Trade Commission.
fdNOr government SOntrOl
"The government should take ovel
the mines, mine the coal and distribute
it to the various sections of the coun
try according TO their Legitimate
needs" said Senator Hollis.
Shortage Of railroad transportation
a grand scramble for coal at this tim,
and the labor situation were three rea
sons assigned by Senator Smoot as tn,
cause of the present serious coal situa
ton. He told the Senate Of con
versation he had with a coal operator
"This operator told me that when thu
war broke out in Europe he had lost
30 per cent of his help; that the effect
Of the eight hour law then contributed
to Ssduce the output of the mines, ano
concluded with and God only knows
what will be the effect when the draf'
il made in this country.
Transportation Not the Cause
Senator Smoot was interrupted al
this point by Senator Pomerene and
others, who declared that transporta'
ton was no, the main factor in the
nresent coal situation. The Ohio Sen
ator declared that there was more coal
mined. transported and consumed IN
the last six months than ever before
in the history of the country. The con,
consus of opinion was that there mao
been an uncalled for sharp advance IN
the price OF coal. Il
Senator Smoot said he was aware OF
the fact that many producers had maze
more than II per cent ..proht-yes'
more than 81 profit ton.
Senator Penrose then injected into
tho discussion the charge that the 1ric-
t;on in the Cabinet between Secretaries
naniels Baker and Lane over the price
the government should pay for coal was
largely responsible for recent specuia-
ZION in coal. The Pennsylvania Senator
said that Secretary Daniels last year
succeeded in getting coal for the navy
for sl3S n ton, cor considerably lower
than the price he is paying for IT now.
"How and where did he get it?" sar-
castically asked Senator Penrose.
Where Daniels Got Coai
"He got it from some West virginia
mines at that price because 1t was
understood that publication OF the fac'
would be a splendid advertisement for
the mines. And who produced tna'
coal? Non-union men and negroes as
we'll as the lowest types OF Southern
European laborers."
Because of an understanding tnat an
amendment offered by Secretary Cham
berlain to Section II of the bill would
be in order at 3 o'clock, further discus
sion of the coal and coke amendment
was put over until tomorrow.
Senator Curtis, of Kansas, offered an
amendment to Mr.. Chamberlain
amendment fixing 4 minimum price OF
50 a bushel for wheat, and not making
II discretionary with the Food Com
mission. but absolute. This amendment
evoked considerable discussion, assur-
ance being given just before the debate
ended this evening that this price
would insure flour at So barrel and
bread at five cents a loaf. This point
WAS brought out at the instance ol
Senator johnson, of California, who de
manded to know what the erect OF u
wheat would have on the consumer. he
said that he had listened all day and
for many days to o discussion Of what
effect the various sections would have
or production, on the farmer and the
nr;ce the government would have te
rsv for the products therein mentioned
"but what about the price that the con-
sumner must pay"
How Will Consumer Fare!
"That is what interests me-" con-
+;,ued tho Senator. "I have been en-
Gagged during the last six weeks IN
1estigatine the street railway strike
here in the capital city. And the IN
formation have secured about the
wages and living conditions OF these
men. most of whom have large lam,
lilies. prompts me to ask what ehec'
iris nroyision will have on them II the
Serate fixes a minimum price OF - loi
No action was taken on this amend.
mont when the Senate adjourned until
tomorrow. a..
The compromise substitute for the
licensing section OF the food controi
hill which was offered yesterday by
Senator Chamborla was adopted. but
not until Senator Wadsworth succeed
ed in having included in its operators
any person operating a cold storage
establishment for eggs.
Among the amendments offered to-
day was one BY Mr.. McNary. the. new
Senator from Oregon, who urged the
use Of $4,000, 900 OF the $3.50 900, 900
appropriation carried in the food bill
for reclamation work. Opposition on
the ground that the bill should not be
loaded down with amendments of this
character came from all sections ot
the chamber, although much support
was forthcoming. Senators Borah,
Cronna, Vardaman and one or two
others urged the adoption of the
amendment on the ground that It was
IL kianAu nf Aha hill-lO