The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-19
COAL REGULATION
 HAS APPROVAL OF
 FEDERAL AGENCIES
l. c. c. Chairman and Director of Geological Survey De- clare That Bill Would
 Be Workable
By Associated Press

Washington. January 1s.-Regulation of
 tho coal industry as provided in the pend ing Calder bill was indorsed today by heads of two of the three government
 agencies which would be charged with administration of the measure Edgar F. Clark, chairman of the inter- state commerce commission, and Dr. George Otis Smith. director of the gev- logical survey, both of which agencies, together with the federal trade commis- sion, would be called upon to enforce the regulatory provisions, told the Sem
 ate manufactures committee that the bill
 as drafted would me workable. The chair man of the federal trade commission, Huston Thompson. will be heard tomor- row by the committee, which then plans to hear the view sof J. D. A. Morrow, vice president of the National Coal as- sociation, and other representatives of the industry.
 Chairman Clark was asked particuiar- ly as to his opinion of provisions of the bill which would require the interstate commerce commission to regulate freight car sur>ly at mines, and gather facts
 as to coal movements. In the course of his reply approving such provisions. fs declared that the acute shortage of cars of last year might again be experienced iuness means were devised to bring about the transportation Of coal in ad- vance of the seasonab1e requirements. WILL BE ENACTED
 i Asserting that the bill should be -n, acted, Director Smith outlined for the committee the two general methods pro- posed in the bill for dealing with the coal industry
 "The first method to be applied during normal times when coal is available at proper prices" said Dr. Smith, merely involves the collection of statistics of production. distribution and costs which
 are to be made available to the public. i No producers of commodity like coat; i impressed with public use, can reason ably object to this
 "The second method, to be applied only 1 in emergency. and when found necessary !! by the federal trade commission with the approval of the President, allows price, fixing. dealing in coal by the federal government and authorizes control of the production, transportation and sale of coal. I think we have found there can l be necessities of peace as well as ne- cessities of war to justify the existing of governmental powers like these" Dr. Smith was led into prolonged ar gument during his estimony by Senator Reed, democrat Missouri.
 Isn't it fact that there was always plenty of coal at low prices. in this 1 country prior tc 1914 and the war;" Sem 1 atol Reed asked Do you know of a 1 case where a man couldn't go to coal l yard and get all he wanted anytime barring occasional strikes at mines or railroad tie-ups?"H
 Dr. Smith replied that the industry has generally been fin bad condition and unsta bilized." and troubled with over- production, to which the Missouri senator responded that ''over-production gener- ally is a good thing for the community at i large" Senator Reed also contended that normal operation of economic supply ana demand would give q better and cheaper ,coal supply than any federal regulation but Dr. Smith held to his conclusion that
 there was "a middle ground" for reguia- tior by federal authority desirable in the pr oduction and distribution of some com modities.