The Connecticut labor news., 1921-07-29
BILL TO LICENSE COAL PRODUCTION
 CAUSES BIG ROW
Operators and Brokers Rise to Pre- vent Any Interference With Their
 Gouging of Public.

Washington, July 2o.-Congress- man Newton of Minnesota has intro duced bill, H. R. 20, known as The Federal Coal Act" This bill de- clares:
 That coal and it's sufficient and economical production and proper distribution and information respect ing ownership of coal and ownership, production, distribution, costs, sales, and profits in the coal industry 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 respect ing interstate and foreign commerce, public health, taxation, and other matters, and that the ownership and the production of and the distribution of and dealing in coal throughout the United 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 pro- duction, distribution, cost and price of coal, to be ascertained by the Fed eral Trade Commission, the Inter state Commerce Commission and the Geological Survey
 A provision of emergency power i'll the President to fix prices and con trol production in emergency threat ening the public health.
 A provision for prohibitory broker age tax to prevent excessive resale.
 A license feature to enforce the above
 The declaration that coal is charged with public interest and use Is neces- sary to establish the right of Con- gress to secure cost of production in formation which has been challenged 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 gressman Samuel E. Winslow of Massachusetts is chairman. He has been asked to give hearing there on and will do so probably within a fighting this bill and the Calder com mittee's investigation of the files of the National Coal Association showed that that association after enjoining the collection of information, used all it's efforts to prevent the appointment of a fuel administrator to influence the action of the Interstate Com merce Commission in priority orders, and to excite the public with fear of coal shortage.
 The National Coal Association has an income from tonnage due of ap- proximately $4oo,ooo year in addi- tiop to which the local associations also receive tonnage dues.
 During June, July and August, 1920, the margin of 300 bituminous coal operators-the Calder committee pointed out, "was approximately 10 1916; about one and half to two and period, IoI7-18 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 SIS to $I3.75 as the ruling market prices for good grades of steam coal on July IA, 1920. The excessiveness of these spot prices is clear in the light of the fact that for 5I companies an average price of less than $5 pro- duced a return at the rate of 30 per cent. on their investment.
 The Federal Trade Commission and other government agencies have shown that coal operators and deal CTS have made as high as 200 to 500 and GOO 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 winters coal supply by the enactment of this bill The fact is that Congress can promptly enact this bill and before winter secure action which will en- able the government to keep down the prices of coal materially for all consumers.
 Labor is asked to 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 sem ators asking them to work for this bill.