Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1920-12-17
j. s. MAY SEIZE
ALL COAL MINES
Senate Committee on Production
and Reconstruction Reports.
TO END PRoFITEERING EVIL
Senator Kenyon Sees Seizure by the.
Government the Only Way Out OF
the Abuse-Labor Leaders
Are Hit.

Washington, Dec. 15.-Sharp cr1ti-
cism of the national coal industry
with implied threat of drastic legisia-
ton by congress to meet alleged eVlis
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 askeU
power to allow the committee to con-
tinue it's investigation, suggested gov
eminent activities to bring about co.
operation under regulation in build
ing construction, but its three Republic
can members, Senators Calder of New
York, Edge, New Jersey, and Kenyons
Iowa, supplemented their findings Win
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
he corrected" while Senator Kenyon
declared that eff the matter is to go
on, l, 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-
yaiIing chaos, and give even reason
rble 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 It
has followed the priority orders OF
the interstate commerce cammlsslon,S
has continued unchecked by the De-
partment of Justice, and is a natlonar
disgrace the committee said in Its
Joint report. "Coal speculation has
been permitted to monopolize the
transportation facilities of the country,
retarding necessary construction ana
Increasing the basic cost of manufac-
ture and distribution of commodities
in general 1t has bled the home own
ers, public utilities and industries.
Calls Condition Helpless.
sour investigation into the coal sit-
nation has convinced us that the pri-
yate 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 it is the duty OF
the government to take such reason
able and practical steps as it 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 it was rec
commended, that operators, whole
salers, jobbers and retailers in the in
dustry be required to file full and FREE
uuent 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 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"
ri AcK AND TANS WIN FIGHT