Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-08-30
Wants Reserve Power
Continued from Page One)

Mr. Harding. it was declared. be-
lieved today that the bituminous coal
industry was working out its own
problem under the impetus of the prac-
teal settlement reached at Cleveland
and held further that the anthracite
strike would he settled shortly on a
basis which would permit the hard
coal mines to return rapidly to produc-
ton. Should this forecast be borne
out by developments, il was said at
the White House, the railroad tangle
would be left as the only industrial
knot OF first Importance and in this
connection the administration policy
as outlined today was said to be con-
structed on strict enforcement of
existing laws which guarantee safety
of life and property and maintenance
of necessary public service.
A less optimistic view Of the fuel
situation was taken by Chairman Cum
Minis of the Senate interstate COM
merce committee in his report on the
coal control bill.
The present situation is an exceed
inglv grave one" the report declared,
ceeded in measurably increasing their
facilities for handling coal. the situa-
ton would be the same as though the
bituminous strike was still in progress
throughout the industry. Some oper-
ators and many Dealers" the report
continued, are taking advantage of the
shortage Of fuel, and Congress was
faced with the necessity of either APP
proving legislation such as that being
be "plundered."
The Senate committee approved an
amendment to the bill which would
limit the authority of the controlling
commission to one year.
The House interstate commerce com
mittee in reporting the Winslow bill
for federal coal control announced that
the proposal for a federal fuel agency
had been definitely abandoned and
this conclusion Despite this action,
however, Representative Anderson.
Republican. Minnesota. announced to-
night that he had prepared an amend
ment by which the president would
be authorized to take over coal mines
! if necessary to obtain an adequate sup
ply of coal. and to create a national
agency for buying from the mines and
selling direct to the consumer.
Some leaders declared tonight that
both the Johnson and Anderson amend
ments probably would be thrown out
on points of order as not being ger
name to the bill itself.
The six hours OF debate on the bill
had not been concluded when the
House adjourned tonight, The meas
ure will be taken up tomorrow for
| continued consideration item by item
and leaders said they would press for
a vote tomorrow night. Warm support
was given the bill during the debate
| today as an administration measure
and as affording a means of preventing
| profiteering in public necessity. 1t
was opposed by Republicans and Dem
| ocrats who contended that while it
might deal with profiteerng opera
! tor. IT offered NJ protection to the con-
| sumner against the dealer.
| Notices were served upon the gen
| tlemen from New England and the
East by Representative Bland. Repub-
| lican. Indiana. that if the bill were
enacted to give them coal it would be
| followed by similar legislation to reg.
| ulate the price of shoes and other
manufactured articles produced by
their states. Mr.. Bland insisted that
if such measures were taken to rogu-
! late the price of coal they should also
be followed to regulate the price OF
| hogs for the farmers"