Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1920-12-17
j. 8. 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.

N'S 1850
Washington. Dec. 15.-Sharp criti-
cism of the national coal industry,
with implied threat Of drastic iegisla-
ton by congress to meet alleged evils
of pro6teering and speculation, &C
companied the partial report OF the
committee on production and recon-
struction. submitted to the senate. {,
In general, the report, which asked
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 Republi-
can members, Senators Calder of New
York. Edge, New Jersey, and Kenyon,
Iowa, supplemented their findings with
additional statements, all or whcn
agreed in asking special legislative:
attention to present methods OF pro-
duclng and distributing coal.
Favors Mine Seizure.
These. Chairman Calder said, must,
be corrected" while Senator Kenyon!
declared that "if the matter is to go,
on, /. for one, harsh as the remedy
might be, shall favor taking over the;
mines" Senator Edge expressed as:
his conclusion that "the coal lndus-'
try cannot bring order out of the pre-
vailing chaos, and give even reason
ebIe 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 profteering, especially as IL
has followed the priority orders OH
the interstate commerce commission,
has continued unchecked Dy the De-
partment of Justice, and is natlonai
disgrace" the committee said In Its
Joint report. Goal speculation mas
been permitted to monopoliZe the
TRANSPORTATION facilities of the country,
retarding necessary construction and
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.
"Our investigation into the coal sit
uation has convinced us that the pri-
vate interests now in control or the
production and distribution of coal, in
spite of efforts by some. are actually
unable to prevent continuance or
repetition of the present deplorabie
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 administrat ton of the
production and distribution Of coal,
the committee said. SHOULD be a last
resort" but for the present it was rec
commended, that operators, whole
salers. iobbers and retailers in the in
dustry be required to file full and fire.
ouent repOrts with a 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 vAom and the prices made and re-
ceiveG under contracts or sales" The
reports should be sufficient 80 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 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 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 misdrection and exploitation
of some groups of organized labor.
through grating leadership, has beer
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 tabor 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"