Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-14

Housing Shortage Grave the Coun-
try Over; Probers Bare Graft
in Labor Groups.
cit is the duty of the government to
take such reasonable and practical steps
as it may be necessary to remedy the
eviP' growing out of the coal situation
the Senate committee on production and
reconstruction today reported to the
Senate in a preliminary statement OF
its findings.
The committee, headed by Senator
q, Calder of New York. found that there
has been tremendous coal profiteerins.
IL declared that the private interests
now in control of production and dis
tribution of coal are unable to prevent
continuance Of the present deplor-
able situation
The reputation of contracts for coal
during the last six months has been a
primary cause for the ''disgraceful and
disastrous conditions" the committee
said This must be remedied. The re-
port then continues:
Would Require Reports.
while the fulfillment of contractual
relations is Of first importance to the
stabilization of the industry in the in
end labor as well, your committee be-
lieves that the government should at
all times be informed as to coal dis
tribution, and at this time recommends:
THAT all coal operators, wholesalers.
jobbers and retailers be compelled by
statute to file at regular and frequent
periods with some federal agency re-
ports on the total tonnage produced OF
handled, the size and quality thereof.
the amount of tonnage contracted for,
spot sale. to whom. together with the
prices made 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 interrelations
or the communities Of interest, II any,
between companies producing and dis
tributing coal
with this and collateral informa-
tion in the hands of federal author
tiles Tor possible use by the Depart
ment OF Justice and other government
agencies, prevailing evils as to irregu-
larity in deliveries, inferiority Of quail
ity, profiteering in prices and undue
monopoly of transportation facilities
should to a great extent be eliminate
ed. But II no other remedy can be de-
vised, II may be necessary to enact
some form Of federal licensing to meet
the situation" .s-. q.
Ask Special Lesi,sG - s.-.-ssss1 ss-.ssss
The three republican members.
Senators Calder of New York, Edge
of New Jersey and Kenyon of Iowa,
suppletnented their findings with addi-
in asking special Legislative attention
to present methods of producing and
distributing coal
These, Chairman Calder said, "must
be corrected" while Senator Kenyon
declared that 1'if the matter is to go
on, I. for one, harsh as the remedy
may 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-
able relief to the suffering people, SO
1 am ready to modify somewhat, in
this case, my opposition to govern
ment intrusion into private business
and to advocate legitimate scrutiny"
Coal profiteerfng, especially as it
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
transportation facilities Of the coun-
try. retarding necessary construc-
tion and increasing the basic cost of
manufacture and distribution Of COM
modities in general. 1t has bled the
home owners, public utilities and in
dustries.
Government administration of the
production and distribution Of coal,
the committee said. should be a last
resort"
serious Housing shortage.
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 it
held to have deleterious effect upon
public health. morals and industrial
growth. Labor conditions also were
discussed by the committee.
The report continues:
sThe total housing construction dur
ing the last four years is hardly equal
TO that of a normal year. Rentals
have increased from 25 to $50 per
cent -Four years ago a house for a
workingman cost on an average about
$4,000. Today the same house costs
$4,000. Houses produced at such cost
are beyond the purchasing power of
the workingmen of this country. To
buy such house or to rent II. n
workingman would have to pay the
equivalent of rent of at least $50 a
month instead of the $50 a month that
he is accustomed to paying. Industrial
ntNelopfHent, tO&etneF with incYeaa-
ing immigration. will add to the pres
ent urban congestion.
Bares Labor Graft,
The misdireetion 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
grafting labor leaders, have COM
bined TO force unduly high prices
The Department of Justice is urged Ia
prosecute the wrongdoers whenever
they are found to have violated the
federal statutes"
Esta blishment of more trade schools
by cities and states to train appren
fices for the building trades was
recommended, as was the creation OF
a federal bureau to assist in framine
building codes which would secure
lower costs.
Financing building investment, the
committee said. should be aided In
several ways, suggesting lowering OF
excess profits and surtaxes. and tar
exemption for real estate MORTGAGES
A modification of the federal reserve
act, to permit member banks to in.
vest in longtime mortgages, was
further recommended, and the com.
mittee said 1t indorsed the principle
of 'the home loan bank bill, which /,
designed to facilitate a wider distri.
button OF real estate mortgages
through standard bond issues"
Popular saving and thrift. II wal
Corcluded would he aided by copSoli