Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1920-12-15
SEIZURE THREAT
MADE AGAINST
COAL G0UCERS
Drastic Laws to Curb
Profiteering in Industry
Urged by Senators.
Speculation Is National
Disgrace, Declares Re-
construction Report.

Washington, Dec. 14.-(By
The Associated Press) Sharp
criticism of the national coal in
dustry, with implied threat Of
drastic legislation by congress to
meet alleged evils of profiteering
and speculation accompanied the
partial report of the senate COM
mittee on production and recon-
struction, submitted to the
senate Tuesday.
In general, the report, which asked
power to continue the investigation sug-
gested government activities to bring
about cooperation under regulation In
building construction, but its three Re-
publican members, Senators Calder OF
New York; Edge, New Jersey. and Ken
yon. Iowa, supplemented their findings
with additional statements when agreed
In asking special legislative attention to
present methods of producing and dis
tributing coal.
Favors Seizure.
These. Chairman Calder said, '.must
De corrected" while Senator Kenyon de- !
elared that IF the matter is to 20 ON. !
for one, harsh as the remedy might /
be, shall favor taking over the mines.'
Senator Edge said that sths coal in
dussry cannot bring order out of the
prevailing chaos and give reasonable re- !
Lief to the suffering people, 30 I am
ready TO modify som mewhat, In this case, .
my opposition Go government intrussSn
INTO private business. and To alyocas@
legitimate scrutiny"
Goal profiteering, especially as IL
has been followed the priority orders OF
interstate commrca commission has con-
tinued unchecked by the department. OF
justice, and Is q national disgrace" the
committee said in it's joint report. "CoaI
speculation has been permitted to mono
police the transportation facilities at the
country.
People Helpless
"Our Investigation into the coal sit
uatlon has convinced Us that the pri-
vafe interests are actually unable to
prevent q continuance or repetition Of
the present deplorable situation, and
that 1t is the duty Of the government
to take such reasonable and practical
steps rs it may devise to remedy the;
evil"
Government administration of the pro.
duction and distribution of coal the com
mttee said. should be a last resort,'s
but it was recommended that operators.
wholesalers, jobbers and retailers in theI
industry be rquired to file full and fire.
quent reports with q federal agency
The reports should be sufficient ito.
determine costs and profits, and the cor-l
porate inter-relations or the communities
OF interests, If any, between companies
producing and distributing coal.s
/ Housing Shortage.
In other fields. the committee said.
there exists a serious shortage of hous-'
ing, not only In the. great cities but In thei
smaller cities as well, even in the far
west and south" which it held to have
deleterious effect upon public health.
and industrial growth.
THE mis-direction and exploitation Of
some groups of organized labor, through
grating leadership. has been revealed In
New York City, and has been reported
in some other large Cities" the report
said. 'This has spread TO employers.
who, working with such grating labor
leaders, have combined to force unduly
high prices. The department of Justice
- urged to prosecute the wrong doers."
Establishment of more trade schools
BY cities and states to train apprentices
Tor the building trades was recommended
to assist In framing building eodes and
over costs.
Financing building investment, the
committee said. should be aided in sew
,ral ways, suggesting lowering OF ex-
'ess profits and surtaxes. and tax ex-
'mption for real estate mortgages. 4
of the federal reserve act
0 permit member banks to invest In
ong time mortgages, was further rec
mmended and the committee said It
ndorsed the people Of "the home loan
ank bill. which Is designed to facilitate
wider distribution of real estate mort
ages through standard bond issues."
Popular saving and thrift, ii was con-
luded. would be aided by consolidation
II federal thrift activities and BY
m mending the postal savings law, *to
,rovide adeQuats interest for depoas~
ors."