The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-07-29
FOR FEDERAL
COAL CONTROL

Congressman Newton Of Mime
| sofa has introduced a bill, II. k.
| 90 known as "The Federal Coal
/ Act"
The bill declares:
"The coal. and its sufficient and
| economical production and proper
distribution and information respect
ing ownership Of coal and owner
ship, production, distribution, costs,
sales, and profits in the coal in
| dustry are necessary to the public
health and general welfare of the
people of the United States and to
the Congress of the United States
for the purpose of legislating from
time to time respecting interstate
and foreign commerce, public health,
taxation, and other matters, and
that the ownership and the produc-
ton of and the distribution of and
dealing in coal throughout the Unit
ed States are hereby recognized to
be, and are hereby declared to be
charged with public interest and
use"
The bill provides:
For current publicity about the
production, distribution, cost and
price of coal, to be ascertaned by
the Federal Trade Commission, the
Interstate Commerce Commission
and the Geological Survey.
A provision Of emergency power
in the President to fix prices and
control production in emergency
threading the public health.
A provision for prohibitory brok-
erage tax to prevent excessive re-
sale.
A license feature to enforce the
above.
The declartion that coal is charged
with public interest and use is neces-
sary to establish the right of con-
gress to secure cost of production
information which has been chal-
lenged in the courts by the National
Coal Association.
This bill has been referred to the
House Committee on Interstate and
Foreign Commerce of which Con-
gresham Samuel E. WinsloW of
Massachusetts is chairman. He has
been asked to give hearing there
on and will do so probably within
d lew WEEKS. ne COdl lHJSICSOS
are fighting this bill and the Calder
Committees investigation of the
files of the National Coal Associa-
ton showed that that association
| after enjoining the collection of in
| formation, used all its efforts to
prevent the appointment of a Fuel
Administrator; to influence the ac-
ton of the Interstate Commerce
| Commission in priority orders, and
to excite the public with fear of a
| coal shortage.
The National Coal Association has
an income from tonnage due of APP
| proXimately 100000 a year in adj
! dition to which the local associa-
tions also receive tonnage dues.
During June, July and August,
1920, the margin of 300 bituminous
coal operators-the Calder Commit
tee pointed out, was approximately
ten times as high as in the prewar
year, 1916; about one and a half
to two and half times as high as
in the war period, 1917-1S, and
about seven times as high as in
1919 and the first three months of
1920"
The Wentz Co., of which the pres
ident is d. B. Wentz, president of
the National Coal Association
quoted $500 to $13.75 as the rul-
ing market prices for good grades
of steam coal on July 18th, 1920
The eXcessiveness of these spot
prices is clear in the light of the
fact that for 81 companies an av-
erage price of less than $500 pro
duced a return at the rate of sc
per cent on their investment
The Federal Trade Commission
and other government agencies have
shown that coal operators and deal
ers have made as high as 200 to 500
and 900 per cent profit and occas-
ionally even higher.
Opponents of the Newton bill are
fighting it, saying that no good
can be accomplished for next win
ter's coal supply by the enactment
of this bill. The fact is that Con-
gress can promptly enact this bill
and before winter secure action
which will enable the government to
keep down the prices of coal ma
terially for all consumers.
Please Immediately write or tele-
graph Congressman Samuel E. Win
slow asking him to report this bill
out of Committee promptly and
write or wire your two United
States Senators asking them to
work for this bill.