Manchester Democrat., 1920-12-29
WARNS j. s. MAY
SEIZE COAL MINES
Senator Kenyon Sees No Other
Way Of Ending Profit
eering Evil.
CONDITION CALLED HOPELESS

| CONDITION CALLED HOPELESS
Private interests In Control OF Pro-
duction and Distribution Unable 70
Prevent Repetition Of Present
DepIorabls Condition.
Washington, Dec. 15.-Sharp criti-
cism OF the national coal industry.
with implied threat OF drastic legisla-
tion by congress- to meet alleged evils
of profiteering and speculation, ac-
companied the partial report OF the
committee on production and recon-
struction, submitted to the senate.
In general, the report, which asked
power to allow the committee to con-
tinue its investigation, suggested gov
eminent activities to bring about CO.
operation under regulation In build
ing construction. but Its three Republi-
can members, Senator's Calder of New
York, Edge, New Jersey, and Kenyon.
Iowa, supplemented their findings with
additional statements, all of which
agreed in asking special legislative
attention to present methods OF pro-
ducing and distributing coal.
Favors Mine Seizure.
These, Chairman Calder said. "must
be corrected" while Senator Kenyon
declared that "if the matter is to go
on, I, for one, harsh as the remedy
might be, shall favor taking over the
mines" Senator Edge expressed as
his conclusion that "the coal indus
try cannot bring order out of the pre-
vailing chaos, and give even reason
able relief to the suffering people, so
am ready to modify somewhat. In
this case, my opposition to govern
ment intrusion into private business
and to advocate legitimate scrutiny"
"Coal profiteering, especially as Y
has followed the priority orders OF
the interstate commerce commission,
has continued unchecked by the De-
partment of Justice, and is a national
disgrace" the committee said in Its
Joint report. "Coal speculation has
been permitted to monopolize the
transportation facilities of the country,
retarding necessary construction and
increasing the basic cost Of manufac-
ture and distribution of commodities
In general. II has bled the home own
ers, public utilities and industries.
Calls Condition Helpless.
"Our investigation into the coal sit
uation has convinced us that the pri-
vate interests now In control Of the
production and distribution of coal, in
spite of efforts by some. are actually
unable to prevent continuance or
repetition of the present deplorable
situation, and that 1t is the duty Of
the government to take such reason
able and practical steps as 1t may
to remedy the evil"
Government administration of the
production and distribution of coal,
the committee said, SHOULD be last
resort" but for the present 1t was rec
commended. that operators, whole
salers, jobbers and retailers in the In
dustry be required to file full and fire.
quent reports with federal agency,
These reports should show. the COM
mittee concluded, "total tonnage pro-
duced or handled, size and quality
thereof, amount Of tonnage contracted
for, sold on contract and at spot sale.
to whom and the prices made and re-
ceived under contracts or sales The
reports should be sufficient ITO deter
mine costs and profits, and the corpo-
rate interrelations or the communities
Of interests If any between companies
producing and distributing coal"
In other fields, the. committee said,
'there exists a serious shortage OF
housing, not only in the great cities,
but In the smaller cities as well, even
in the far West and South, which is
held to have deleterious effect upon
public health, morals and Industrial
growth. Labor conditions also were
discussed by the committee.
Hits Labor Leaders.
"The misdirection 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 larger
cities" the report said. "This has
spread to combinations of employers,
who, working together with such graft
ing labor leaders, have combined TO
force unduly high prices. The Depart-
ment of Justice is urged to prosecute
the wrong-doers whenever they are
found to have violated the federal
statutes"
20 FRENCH SLAIN IN AMBUSH
Body Of Troops Attacked Near Djebll.