The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-01-20
MORROW DENOUNCES THE CALDER
COAL BILL AS Revolutionary

WASHINGTON Jan. l9.--ProviS!onS or
the Calder bill tor fedora! regulation OF
rhe coal Industry were denounced as
) revolutionary in their application TO
. existing relations oc American govern
ment and Industry" by J. u. \. Nor
row, vice president Of ;he National Coal
Association. to-day. before the senate
manufactures Comm.t"tc. Another wit
moss Huston Thompson, chairman or
rnc federal trade commission. appearing
it," m the day. however, began An en-
Gnrs"uert OF the measure. which was
sGt short, by ADJOURNMENT until to-mor-
-u". when he VIII resume.
NJ. MOrrow'S stand WAS far from be
ing unchallenged by members OF the
rof,u,ictee. When he remarked that the
COMMITTEES between three days was
ra~S.C- upon proposal for price fixing.
taG a measure that was "N2-c'y short O.
decentralization Of coal .-,neS,' Senator
jones. Democrat. New Mexico, rHtorted
t..,c members OF the com0Itte" had
spent months and years IN study OF the
situation"
Norrov vs.. Walsh
When Senator Walsh. Democrat, Mas
sachuse,ts. raised the question OF high
, prices paid IN New England Cor Goa, LAST
year. Suggesting that the government
Cad the industry had failed 20 cure the
, difficulty by placing IN embargo On
export coal. rs Great Britain DID, Mr.
Morrow countercd with the assertion
that New England WIS manufacturing
district and that coal producers are
Willing 70 stand embargo when othe~
producers using coal TO make things tor
export are willing to stand IT. Sena-
tor walsh responded with the statement
that coal and milk were commodities
that the government ought 70 prepare
Z take charge OF first IN emergency.
Senator Reed. Democrat. Of Missouri:
, interviewed in the discussion NJ tn'S
, point. to declare tNrt ne was seeking
common Eround" Co- the various con-
F.lcts before the committee ana aSkc2
Mr. Morrow whether the provisions OF
the Calder bill for publicity OF produc-
, ,!on costs. prices. distribution and stocks
Of coal were Objectionable to the NINE
owners
"Ir We could be sure" replied Mr.
Morrow, that in conScntIrg 20 the COM
pulsory demand OF. the government for
these statistics. we would not De admit
Clnr interpretation OF the constitution
and it's principles which would allow the
government 70 so far beyond ;aat' l
,hink you would have little trouble.
The coal association head Indicated
however. that his organizations position
would be 10 stand upon the declared con-
stitutional position which Senator Reed
said was all wrong"
spends $4,000 Yearly
Chairman LaFolette switched the eN-
animation to bear on the association It
sa,f and Mr. Morrow cited rs annual
,ypense as about $500, 900, covering some
Ectiyities which ne said. IN recent years
v.ere abnormal" and his own salary NJ
$4,000 per annum. All this. Senator
IaFollette observed. had 20 come out OF
coal production costs" and Senator Reed
promptly pointed TO officers OF the mine
workers union, attending the nearing
and suggested the miners had "soUe or
panixation costs 10 come out OF coal
90" Mr., Morrow agreed TO both suSgeS-
tions.
Senator Reed drew from the witness
,,-rcroys statements that coal resources
" the United States are immense IN eX-
tcnt and that continuing storage or sup
r.y IS Impossible.
Chairman Thompson explained that
N, federal trade commission in 1920 had
embarked upon cost fading :nreStSa-
.;.,rs n the coal industry. bu. had been
-.,.,roi by The courts upon the alpca.
r - National Coal Assoc :atiOH. Many
en-, Operators. re added, were wiling
however. 20 Furnish cost reports 70 tNs
. ,.-n-lsssiou In spite Of ;he comm!sSioa's
Ind against accepting them in view OF
49,. .....-rt action.