The Washington herald., 1920-12-27
Calder Says Priority Rule
Made Builders Pay
Impossible Rates.
EXPLAINS SETBACK
IN CONSTRUCTION
Declares Action by Senate
Needed to Restore
Normal Activity.

ter lesson and the building industry
suffered a grievous setback during
the last six months as the result of
the coal priority orders issued by the
Interstate Commerce Commission is
the charge Of Senator Calder, Of New
York. which Congress is not dis
posed to ignore.
II it is true, as Senator Calder
says, that the priority orders forced
men who had to have various build
ing materials to pay two and three
times the regular prices for them,
and greatly retarded building and
depressed business, as charged, the
Senate Committee on Interstate
Commerce will take up the matter
with a view to amending the trans
portation act Sin order to check the
issuance of ill-advised eX parte or
ders-"
All Cities Crowded.
AT a recent conference of health
commissioners in Detroit" said Sem
-ator Calder in discussing housing
conditions before the Senate last
Thursday, abnormal overcrowding
was shown in every city of more
than 200 900, and as a result of this
overcrowding infant mortality in
the congested centers has increased
so per cent. There is also a large
increase in the number of tubercu-
losis cases in these cities.
Many members of the Senate be-
lieve these conditions in the end will
take care of themselves. France be-
lieved likewise until she was COM
l., III, !,
mean government building and pa
ternalism. England believed likewise
until compelled to build 500. 900 homes
for her working men. New York
thought so until the people demand
ed the passing of rent laws. Massa-
chusetts thought so until the legisla-
ture found il necessary to enact SIM
liar laws.
so we hesitate and put off until
we may have TO take action which
is damaging to the future of our
country. Would II not be better to
act now in favor of relief for this
housing condition than to wait un-
til the people rise up in discomfort
and demand that the government
itself go into the building business"
Says Brains Needed.
Senator Calder expressed opposi-
tion<Q any kind of legislation that
would discourage private initiative.
saying: I'VE have relied upon our
American citizenry to solve its
problems in the past. There never
was a time when the country
needed the best directed efforts as
much as ii does today, and Congress
can perform no greater service than
that of enacted legislation which
will encourage private citizens to
settle their own problems, rather
than legislation which will make
the private citizen dependent upon
the government"
Railroad, labor, fuel and HOUSING
difficulties were linked together as
demanding the attention of Con-
gress by the New York Senator.
who scored fuel profiteers for their
imposition upon the government,
and added:
Fuel is a basic necessity. Ma
tional development depends upon an
ever-increasing supply of power
Heat is as necessary for production,
in fact for human existence, as are
air and water: its use must be con-
tinued from day to day and cannot
be deferred or interrupted. Private
interests now in control of coal and
its distribution are able. despite the
efforts of some. to prevent a contin-
uance or reptition Of the present
deplorable situation. Coal opera
, tors. wholesalers, jobbers and re-
tailers should be compelled to- file
at regular and frequent intervals
with some Federal agency reports
on the total tonnage produced or
handled. the size and quality
thereof, the amount of tonnage con-
tracted for. the amount sold on con-
tract and at spot sale, to whom, to-
gether with the prices made or re-
ceiyed under such contracts or
sales"
Housing Report Filed.
Calder had just filed with the
Senate a report of the special COM
mittee appointed last April to in
quire into the housing shortage and
to matters OF thrift, transportation
and finance as they pertain to hous-
ing, and said it was the belief of
the committee that the public
should be informed entirely en- the
production and distribution of fuel
and the prices concerned.
Interstate Commerce Commits
sioner Aitchison, when asked by me
IL coal was being held for specula-
tion," said Senator Calder, in ad-
dressing the Senate last Thursday,
replied:
IT have not the slightest doubt
of it There has been the greatest
crossing Of orders. double-crossing
of orders and double crossing of
consignees that / have ever known
about in my business experience.
Coal has been moved and delivered
in such quantities that there ought
not to be any occasion for panic.
But there have been excuses of car
shortage and labor trouble, and the
result has been that certain unscru-
pulous mine-owners, have no
doubt. and perhaps certain brokers
who have contracts with the rail-
roads. with construction companies
of one kind or another, with in
dustries, with wholesalers and with
retailers Of coal. that have delib-
erately withheld the fulfilling of
contracts in order that they might
have coal for the market"
Senator Cummins, of Iowa, is
chairman Of the Interstate Com
merce COMMITTEES which would have
charge of any Investigation looking
to amendment Of the transportation
act in regard to fuel and the effect
of its transportation deranzement
ypon retarded building and BUSH
kess.