The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-01-22
REFUSE TO SMOTHER
COAL CONTROL BILL
Request to Delay Senate Hear
ings on Measure Is Flat
ly Rejected.
EARLY VOTE PREDICTED
La Toilette Says 1t VIII Be
Disposed OF on Floor at
Present Session.

sD,cial Despatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
Washington, ID. c., Jan. I'll.
Two requests for delay In action on
the Calder Bill. which provides drastic
Federal regulation of the coal industry
me. refusal to-day by the Senate COM
mittee ON Manufactures. Postponement
for year Of the passage OF the Dill
was asked by Ralph Crews, attorney for
the Consolidation Coal Company, one OF
the three largest concerns in the Dl-
luminous industry. and a suspension OF
the hearings for three weeks was re-
quested by George l.. Gushing, manag-
ing director Of the American wholesale
Coal Association, which represents
wholesale coal dealers from all parts OF
the country.
To the suggestion by Mr. Crews. adj
vanced on the theory that the commit
tee and Congress were under the inilu-
ence OF conditions that are fast dis
appearing" and that in year they
would not vote for the bill as they now
might, there was no direct denial, put
merely general intimations that Con-
gress would consider the measure.
But in Mr.. Cushinss request there
was an instant refusal to consider 1t.
He pleaded for three weeks to study the
bill himself before discussing it and to
give his organization n chance to be
heard.
Predicts an Early Vote.
I'VE will dispose OF this bill long be-
fore that time" said Chairman La Fol
lette (wis) Of the committee, and II
you have anything to say you better
say 1t now
Senator Kenyon (Iowa) said such
delay would mean the end OF any legis-
lation this season, and supported SEN
ator La Toilette. as did several others
Both representatives of the coal or
CARNATIONS opposed the measure, and
Mr. Crews emphasized his belief that
il would ruin any development OF the
export coal business.
".This bill would annihilate the future
of the American coal industry In export
coal" said Mr.. Crews. Ut would play
into the hands of Great Britain's export
coal trade. which she has now released
from all restrictions and TO which she
is giving every possible encouragement.
not only for her coal industry but like
wise as an important factor in the res
toration OF other lines of her trade
He said his company had been offered
a contract for export coal OF fo0,o0o
tons and had to give 1t up because, In
making a contract for delivery, they
would have TO include proviso for non
delivery in case the Federal Trade Com
nission under the pending bill refused
the permit to export the coal. He
strongly urged the committee and Con-
gress to delay action on the bill.
Calls 1t Discrimi nation.
1--WE are In the aftermath OF the war"
he continued. my most serious eriti-
cism OF this bill Is that we are uncon-
sciously influenced by conditions that
are fast disappearing II we do not look
out we will ind ourselves facing legis-
lation which none of you gentlemen
would consider voting for one year from
to-day. The consequences OF enacting
this bill would be so farreaching That
we cannot estimate them"
Senator Kenyon Uowa) reminded him
that the restrictions In the bill on the
coal industry would be called into ac-
tion only in cases of emergency, TO be
decided by the Federal Trade Commits
sion and the President. Mr.. Crews
feared the judgment of the commission
as to what an emergency Is.
you have confidence in the President
at least the next President. haven't
your" the Senator asked.
AN unfaltering confidence" replied
Mr.. Crews. But at that we cannot feel
entirely easy nbout n power that after
all involves others besides the Preei-
dent Let us regain ourselves. We are
unhesitating in our belief that II let
alone there will be no need for rogula-
ton. that we will develop our foreign
trade, that we will help develop other
foreign trade to which we and other
American industries are entitled. We
see no reason for this discrimination
AGAINST ls