The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-14
H|NTSU. s. MAY
SEIZE MINES
Senator Calder Fav0rs 1t as Last
Resort to Check Coal
Profiteering.
Continued from First Page-)
Of appealing - the coal bsrsns TO
cease rsbbinE the PEOPLE"

Il asct
Of appealing t. the coal bsrsns to
cease rsbbinx the 1es1Se."
LEGISLATION NEEDED.
There is little question that legis-
lation will be required to straighten
out the fuel situation. especially as 1t
affects the average home and the peo-
pie as a whole" Senator Edge, Repub-
lican. of New Jersey, another mem
Der of the committee said. II am con-
WINGED the coal industry cannot bring
order out Of the prevailing chaos and
give even reasonable relief to the
suffering people, so 1 am ready to
modify somewhat. in this case, my op-
position to Government intrusion into
private business"
Senator Edge urged roa ision Of the
Interstate Commerce Commission act
on the grounds that the commiss lion
seems to have almost autocratic
powers and to be virtually free from
accountability to the executive and
legislative branches of the govern
ment."
He declared the commissions "pres-
ent judicial powers might well be
transferred to the courts" and pro-
posed the establishment In the De-
partment of Commerce OF a fuel d.
vision and transportation division.
to which the commissions admins
trative powers would be assigned.
"ProAteerinE has been rampant and
must be eliminateA.' senator Calder
said. 'The committee believes the
actual costs Of construction and pro-
durtion may he reduced through int
Drovement ofnntfonal facilities, rath-
~r than subsidies, notably with re-
spect to fuel and transportation"
Senator Calder announced the COM
mittee is preparing and will soon
submit to the Senate measures in line
with its recommendations on which 1t
will urge early favorable action. Its
preliminary report was only intro
ductory to what was yet to come, he
pointed out.
NO RELIEF IN SIGHT.
"It now seems to be beyond the
power of private individuals. NUM-
cipslities, or States to overcome the
present handicaps Of transportation.
fuel. finance, and taxation" it was
stated in the committees report. 1.-The
actions of the various States in Gre
ating regulatory rent laws. or to-
housing business, promise no per-
manent relief"
Labor efficiency may be materially
improved" Senator Calder said, in
declaring the labor situation to be
one of the most important factors OF
the situation.
He said he hoped the Senate would
empower the committee to employ
counsel so 1t might continue its in
vestigatio OF the country's recon-
struction and production problems.
ITO assure the mining. transporta-
ton, and distribution of coal at fair
prices Is public duty from which
the government cannot escape" the
report continued. But your COM
mittee believes that governmental
administration of the production and
distribution of coal should be a last
resort, as governmental activities
should always be directed toward en-
| couragement OF private initiative and
enterprise.
URGES RETAIL REPORTS.
The report suggested. in order the
Government SHOULD be at all times
informed as to the coal situation"
that all coal operators, wholesalers,
jobbers, and retailers be compelled by
statute to file at regular and frequent
intervals with some Federal agency
reports on the total coal tonnage pro-
duced or handled, the size and quality
thereof. the amount Of tonnage con-
tracted for, the amount sold on con-
tract or at spot sale and to whom.
together with the prices made or re-
ceived under such contracts or sales.
1t also proposed that producers and
| distributors of coal be required to
make regular reports to determine