The labor world., 1921-11-12
SHALL KING COAL RULE7

1AClC 10 Al COA6 a OAA~ hAo""
as the "Federal Coal Act.' 1t is
sponsored by Mr.. Kenyon in the SEN
ate and Congressman Newton of Min
neapolis in the house. While the bill
goes right to the root Of the coal Sit
uation, that is so far as there is any
hope Of congress going today, it is
having hard shedding.
The Kenyon.Newton bill declares
that coal and its sufficient and econom-
ical production and proper distribution,
and information respecting ownership
Of coal, its production, distribution,
costs, sales and profits in the coal in
dustry, are necessary to the public
health and general welfare Of the peo-
pie Of the United States, and the own
ership, production, distribution Of and
dealing in coal are recognized to be
'<charged with public interest and
use.o
The bill instructs the Federal Trade
commission to secure all the informa-
tion necessary to let the public know
what the profits and methods Of the
dealers in coal, as we'll as Of coal oper.
ators, are. It also provides that when
the Federal Trade commission deter
mines "that an emergency exists or
threatens in the coal industry and
supply which seems likely to produce
4 shortage or bring about unusual OF
unwarranted or unreasonable prices in
coal and be detrimental to the public
health" either generally or in any 10.
cality, and when the President con-
firms such findings he is authorized to
fix maximum coal prices and dealers
commissions and margins everywhere
throughout the country, such action to
continue only until the emergency has
passed.
The bill goes even farther-it author
ICES the President in such an emerg.
eucy to deal in coal cat reasonable
prices.'' It even stipulates that in case
of an industrial dispute between oper~
ators and miners, the President may
take over the operation Of any mines,
providing for just compensation for the
use of the properties taken over, and
also "for the payment during such
emergency control and operation of
fair living wage to the mine workers
based ON a maximum eight-hour day,
commensurate with proper and fair
American standards Of living.''
It is specifically provided that such
action Of the President is not to give
him power to force a settlement 'of an
industrial dispute between the opera
tors and miners, or deprive the mire
workers in any manner Of any power
Of collective bargaining through such
representatives as they may choose,
with the operators relative to said dis
pute. The bill provides that the secre
tary Of labor is to investigate from
time to time the output and wages per
miner, working conditions, terms of en-
ploy and the necessary living ex-
penses Of miners, in order that such
information may be available at times
Of general readjustment Of wage con-
tracts in the coal industry.
Coal operators and dealers have made
as high as 200 per cent profits and
over, and are naturally vigorously op-
posing this legislation.
The Kenyon bill has been referred
to the senate committee on manufac-
lures, of which the following are men,
btrs: Robert NJ. La Toilette, chair
man; William s. Kenyon, Bert M. Fer
maid, Charles L. McNary, William B.
Mckinley, Samuel D. Nicholson, O. E..
Weller, Ellison D. Smith, Atloe Pome-
rene, Andrieus A. Jones and James A..
Reed. Most Of them are opposed to
this legislation.
The Newton bill has been referred
to the committee on interstate and
foreign commerce, of which the fol-
lowing are members: Samuel E. Win
slow, chairman; James 8. Parker, Bur
ton E. Sweet, Walter R. stiness, John
G. Cooper, Edward E. Denison, Everett
Sanders, Schuyler Merritt, j. Stanley
Webster, Evan J. Jones, Carl E. Mapes,
William J. Graham, Sherman E. Bur-
roughs, Walter H. Newton, Homer
Hoch, Alben W. Barkley, Sam Ray.
burn, George Huddleston, Clarence F.
Lea, Paul B. johnson and Harry B.
Hawes. Few Of them favor such thor.
oughgoing supervision Of the coal in.
dustry.
In order to get favorable action by
either committee, the members must
receive letters and kilograms from
their constituents demanding it. Sen.
ator La, Toilette is, of course, heartily
(, fo,,a, >e 49, Lii rl:. w.