The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-14

COAL
INDUSTRY
I1tesring Denounced as
I,Honal Disgrace
Urge Remedies.

| Warrington, Dec. IA. - Sharp
Ssidsm Of the national coal in
10y, with implied threat of dras-
Y Iefislation by congress to meet
i alkred evils Of profiteering and
..culasiou, accompanied the par
II report Of the senate commit
Z, on production and reconstruc-
|xca, submitted to the senate to-
N.
h general, the report, which
nksd power to allow the commit
! = 10 continue its investigation,
eesested government activities to
! hing about cooperation under reg
F ,hton in building construction.
II It's three Republican members,
| gnstors Calder, New York, Edge
I New York and Kenyon OF Iowa,
supplemented their findings with
3dltional statements, all Of which
greed In asking special legisla-
tys attention to present methods
4 producing and distributing coal.
These, Chairman Calder said,
INST be corrected" while Sena-
| W Kenyon declared that "if the
| Hstter Is to go on. l, for one,
lafsi IS the remedy might be,
| hlll favor taking over the mines" Z"
tsnstor Edge expressed as his con-
dHicn that the coal industry can
ut bring order out of the prevail
hg chaos. and give even reason
thk relief to the suffering people
y an ready to modify somewhat
; thh case, my opposition to gov.
elnent Intrusion into private bus.
hAl and to advocate legitimate
1r1tiny."
Coal profteering, especially a.
les followed the priority orders
4 the Interstate commerce com.
lision, has continued unchecked
y tls department Of justice, ant
ba national disgrace" the com.
nn1Itsssid in its joint report
T1al speculation has been per.
1ated to monopolize the transpor'
MIN facilities Of the country. re
hiding necessary construction ant
hreas!ng the basic cost of manu-
hctufe and distribution of com
1oaities in general. 1t has ble(
e home owners, public utilitie.
Ind industries.
Gevernment Must Step In.
Our Investigation into the Goa
tltuatinn has convinced me tina
he private interests now in con
tul OF the production and distri
ntion Of coal in spite Of efforts
Y some, are actually unable t
Reyent continuance or repetition
y the present deplorable situation
sad that 1t is the duty Of the gov
dnment to take such reasonable
lnd practicable steps as it may t
ssmedy the evil"
IN other fields, the committee
nld. there exists a serious short
W OF housing, not only in tn,
Eat cities, but in the smaller cit
~ m we'll, even in the far ives
~ SOUTH" which it held to hav'
seleterous effect upon publ
aeaith, morals and industria
rowth. Labor conditions ais,
'Ge discussed by the committee.
Inc misdirection and exploita
ma OF some groups of organize,
HWf: through grating leadership
- oeen revealed in New Yorl
.v ana has been reported in som
Sssf large Cities" the report said
,as has spread to combination
~smployers who. working togeth
q WIN such grating labor lead
lkh prices.
me department is urged t
vseca'e the wrong-doers when
ssl ,. ney are found to have vic
~ me federal statutes"
= mooincation of the federal re
~ act, to permit member bank
invest in longtime mortgage:
= Iarther recommended. and tn
s.;lt!ee Imlt!ee said it endorsed tn
In inIelpie OF the home loan ban
- ., which is designed to facilitat
s.oer .oer distribution OF real estat
...ses through standard bon