Omaha daily bee., 1921-06-20
LowerPriice
For Coal Is
Frelinghuysen Bill Would
Vary Freight Rates Accord.
ing to Season to Promote
Summer Buying.
Rail Heads Scout Plan
By ARTHUR SEARS HENNING.
Chicago Tribune Omaha Zee Leased Wire.

By ARTHUR SEARS HENNING.
Chicago Tribune Omaha Zee Leased Wire
Washington, June lo.-Chcaper
coal this summer will become
possibility if congress passes with.
CIT delay the Frelinghuysen bill pro-
vidlng for seasonable freight rates
for coal, which the senate will be-
gin considering tomorrow.
The bill authorizes the Interstate
Commerce commission to establish
coal rates varying according to sea-
son. provided that the avt rage an
nual yield to the carriers is not
diminished.
Under such authority il is planned
to fix rates lower in summer than
during the remainder of the year in
order to promote summer buying
and storing of coal and steadier
mine operation.
President Harding is convinced
that lowering OF freight rates,
would reduce the price of coal ma
terially, but railroad executives dis,
pute the soundness of this view
contending that the transportation
cost now is only 2 l-2 per cent OF
the price to the consumer.
Favor Seasonal Rate Bill.
The coal interests favor the sea-
sonal rate bill and the railroads
have offered no opposition to date.
Its early passage by the senate is
| ,,taJ o,J tba to,ca Mill ha
ed to pass it as an emergency
measure
| A companion bill for stabilization
OF the coal industry will be called
up by Senator Frelinghuysen as
soon as the other measure is dis
posed of. The stabilization bill gives
the Commerce and Interior depart
ments broad powers in dealing with
coal mining and distribution and is
being vigorously fought by the coal
operators, wholesalers and retailers.
A statement sent by the National
Coal association, composed of btu
minous operators, to-, members OF
congress opposing the bill, advances
various objections, among them the
following:
1t is regulatory in its character
and seeks to establish govern
mental control over private indus
try.
| It is highly inquisitorial in its ma
ture,
| Violates Guaranty.
Ii violates the constitutional guar
anty against unreasonable search and
seizure
| 1t makes possible the publication
lof private affairs.
1t violates the constitution in that
it attempts to force the disclosure
of information concerning matters
which are not within the power OF
congress to control. III
1t violates the constitution in that
it attempts to transfer legislative
power to the executive.
1t obviously will fail to accom-
plish its ostensible purpose for the
reason that the chief difficulties un-
der which the coal industry operates
are lack of adequate transportation
facilities and irregusarity of markets.
1t will entail upon the national
government great expense in the way
of administration and viii increase
the cost of the production of coal.
Needless Duplication.
1t calls for needless duplication OF
work on the part of government Of
ficials and employees.
1t would be forerunner and pre-
cedent for similar paternal and regu-
latory legislation with reference to
every line of private business.
"If congress has .he power 10
enact legislation of this character
concerning the coal industry and all
consumers OF coal, it must have the
same. power to enact similar legisla-
ton with reference to othef lines of
privite business and if it is conceded
that such legislation offers a pana-
cea for supposed evils in the coal in
dustry, it will in similar fashion be
assumed that by legislation can be
found cure-all for every supposed
defect in private business" says the
association. Such program of leg
islation, once embarked upon, will
lead rapidly to the destruction of
private initiative. competition. and
the whole structure of the producing
and merchandising business OF this
country.