The Connecticut labor news., 1921-11-11
BILL TO CONTROL PRODUCTION
 AND SALE OF COAL BOUND TO HAVE
 HARD SHEDDING BEFORE CONGRESS
COMMITTEES H A VI N c
 CHARGE OF VITAL MATTERS, ALIGNED WITH INTERESTS
 AND NEED SOME PRODDING.


 by Congressman Newton, H.R. 20, known as "Thc Federal Coal Act' will have hardslcdding. The bill goes right to the root of the coal situation. that is, as tar '-as there is any hope of getting Congress to go today It declares that coal and it's sufficient and economical production and proper distribution, and information respecting ownership of coal, its pro- duCtion, distribution, costs, sales, and profits in the coal industry. arc necessary to the public health and general welfare of the people of the United States. and the ownership, production, distribution ot and dealing in coal are recognized to be "charged with public interest and use. The bill instructs the Federal Trade Commission to secure all the information necessary to let the public know what the profits and methods of the dealers in coal. as we'll as of coal operators are. , It also provides that when the Federal Trade Commission determines that an emergency exists or threatens in the coal industry and supply which seems likely to produce shortage or bring about public health" either generally or in any unusual or unwarranted or unreasonable prices in coal and be detrimental to the locality, and when the President confirms such findings he is authorized to fix maxi mum coal prices and dealers COmmis- cip orI ,1ooru;nC hara tbrO11OhNI1t the country, such action to continue only until the emergency has passed. The bill goes even farther-it authorizes the President in such an emergency to deal in coal at reasonable prices" It even stipulates that in case of an industrial dispute between operators and miners, the President may take over the operation of any mine. providing for just conpen- satiOn for the use of the properties taken over, and also flor the payment during such emergency control and operation of a fair living wage to the mine workers based on a maximum eight hour day, commensurate with proper and fair Amer ican standards of living" It is speCi1- Cally provided that such action of the President IS not to give him power to force a settlement of an industrial dispute between the operators and miners, or de- privc the mine workers in any manner of any power of collective bargaining through such representatives as they may choose, with the operators relative to said dispute The bill provides that the Sec retary of Labor IS to investigate from time to time the output and wages per miner, working conditions, terms of en- ploymcnt and the necessary living ex- penses of miners, in order that such in formation may be available at times of general readjustmcnt of wage contracts in the coal industry. Coal operators and dealers have made as high as 200 per cent profit and over, and are naturally vigorously opposing this legislation. The Kenyon bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Manufactures, of which the following are members: Sen ators Robert NJ. LaFollette (Chairman) William S. Kenyon; Bert M. Fernald Charles L. McNary; William B. Me Kinlcy Samuel D. Nicholson, O. E. Vel Ter, Ellison D. Smith, Atloe POmeranc Andrious A. Jones, James A. Reed Most of them are opposed to this legis- lation.
 The Newton bill has been referred tc the House Committee on Interstate anc Foreign Commerce, of which the follow ing are members: Congrcssmen Samue E. WinsloW (Chairman), James s. Par ker, Burton 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 Burroughs; Walter H. Newton, Homer HOch Alben w. Berkley; Sam Ray burn, GeorgeHuddleston Clarence F. Lea Paul B. Johnson, Harry B. Hawes Few of them favor such thorOughgoing sup ervision of the coal industry. In orde to get favorable action by either Commit tee, the members must receive letters anC telegrams from their constituents de manding 1t. Senator La Toilette is o course. heartily in favor of the bill Chairman WinsloW of the House Com mittee on Interstate and Foreign Com 1nerCe is understood to be opposed to it Please immediately write and telegraph the Chairman and members of these Com 1nttees, urging that this bill be repOrtet out favorable at once in order that tn President may have such power to talk over the coal mines in case of the prob able serious coal situation this winter and the backing of the American peop1 to do 1t. Please also write and telegraph your own Congressman and United State Senators, asking them to vote and WOrI tor this measure. Coal operators hay made up their minds to break the miner, union, and we are faced with a very ser ious coal shortage this winter.
 SOMETIMES THE LOSER WIN