Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-12-15
FASTEN GUILT ON
COAL PROF|TEERS,
SENATE is URGED
Special Committee Pre-
sents Sweeping Indict-
ment of Operators.
SEIZURE OF MINES AS
REMEDY is SUGGESTED
Fuel Cost Is Linked With
Housing Shortage in Dras-
tic Report.
LABOR GRAFTERs AssAILED
charged With Mcnacing Public
Health and Morals by Plots
With Employers.
LABOR GRAFTERs AssAnEp
Charged With Mcnacing Public
Health and Morals by Plots
With Employers.
Especial to The rimes.Disna,ch !

Especial to The Times -Dispatch.1
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14-DrastIc
measures against all coal profiteers
were urged in the Senate today
wholesale. prosecution OF employers
and grating labor leaders who are
plotting to keep prices up and strict
Federal control of the coal outpu. ~
the country also were urged In re-
port to the Senate by Senator viii
liam NJ. Calder. of New York. chair.
man of the special committee on rc-
construction and production.
INC report OF Senator Calder,s com
.Hittee follows an exhaustive INQUIRY
INTO the building situation In New
iork city. The housing shortage. II
IS oeclared. Is menace to Industrial
sIowth. morals and public health.
manipulation OF coal prices Is found
10 ne one OF the causes OF high build
ihs costs and the government Is
"rseu 10 take any necessary stems.
even TO actual running of the mines.
20 relieve n situation that is declared
10 be intolerable.
To HeEuinte Priorities.
-AWohS the committees recommen-
datiohs are the following:
!. Amendment of the TRANSPORTATION
act 20 check issuance of ex-parte or
ners by the Interstate Commerce Com
'h'ssioh on the ground that priority
oraers SO issued bring Irregularities
In delivery of building materials.
cause building stagnation and open
opportunities for proflteering.
:. Abolition of tho cost-plus con-
tract System and establishment py
states and cities OF trade schools for
building apprentices.
). Creation of a Federal bureau to
serve as clearing house for the best
knowledge and practices In construc-
tion work. 8
:. revision of the present tax sys-
tenn TO encourage Investment in
MONIES and construction, and to grant
Tor a limited period tax exemption
70 real estate mortgages.
.. broadening OF the home loan
bank bin and consolidation of all Fed
eral thrift activities under the postal
savings branch of the Post Office De-
partment.
The committee has this 10 say on
the New York building expose and
It's reasons for prosecutions:
Denonnc-s Labor Graft.
The misdirection ana exploitation
OF some groups of organized labor.
through grating leadership, has been
revealed In New York City and Is re-
ported in some of the other large
cities. This has spread to combina-
lions OF employers. who. working to-
sether with such grating labor lead
ers, have combined to force unduly
high prices. These conditions are
called TO the attention of the Depart
ment Of Justice. and that department.
is urged to prosecute the wrong
doers whenever they are found to
have violated the Federal statutes"
Senator Calder announced that tho
committee is preparing legislation to
embody it's Recommendations; that
these measures will soon be intro
duccd In the Senate, and early favor-
able action urged.
The committee asks authority of
the Senate to continue its investiga-
tions. stating that unless the Fed
eral government continues to st!mu-
late cooperation OF those engaged
In labor, transportation, tinhnce. .ild
fuel production with those engaged
in general construction that the
growing scarcity of homes may even
tually force upon the government an
undesirable participation in the hous-
ing business"
Fnrors Seislng Mines.
Dealing with the coal situation,
Senator Kenyon. of Iowa. n member
of the committee. said that 'if this
continuous plundcring of the Amcri-
can people Is to 80 on I shall favor
taking over the mines, and IL could
be done, III my judgment. constitu-
tionally."
The committees report states that
as last resort 1t may be necessary
10 enact some form OF Federal IL
censing" OF the coal Industry. Tho
committee nt the present time made
the following recommendation gov
erning the coal industry and It's res
!atioDs to the housing situation.
Lnshes big Coal Operators.
THAT all coal operators. whole-
salers. jobbers and retailers will bo
compelled by statute TO file at regu-
lar and frequent periods with some
Federal agency reports on the total
tonnage produced or handled, the
size and quality thereof. the amount
Of tonnage contracted for the amount
sold on contract and at spot sale. TO
whom. together with the prices madn
or received under such contracts or
sales. and producers and distributors
to make regular reports sufficient to
determine their costs and profits. and
the corporate interreiations or tho
communities of Interest between coia-
panles producing and Distributing
coal" 1, u, ls
This ,nformation 1t 10 bts held fos