The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1922-09-08
TO SEIZE
ROADS and MINES
President Determined That An
thraCite Mining Shall Be Re-
sumed Before Frost.
SEPARATE ACTION ON ROADS
Only Those Unable to Give Adequate
Service Would Be Taken by Gov
ernment-SettIemen Alone Will
Prevent Drastic Action.

Washington.-Legis declaring
national emergency and directing the
President to seize and operate anthra-
cite mines and certain railroads un-
able to cope with traffic demands will
be introduced in the senate If the in
dustrial situation does not improve
in the meantime
Definite announcement to this effect
was made after a conference between
President Harding, Attorney General
Daugherty and Senator Cummins,
chairman of the Interstate Commerce
Committee.
The collapse of negotiations to end
the railroad shopmen's strike, and the
failure of the brotherhood mediators
for the striking shopmen and heads
of fifty-two railroads to agree to an
independent settlement basis, are be-
lieved to have been the impelling cause
for the conference at the White House.
1t appears that the administration is
waiting to see whether the anthracite
operators and mine workers get to-
gether for another conference before
it embarks definitely upon course
leading to Federal control Of the sftua
ton.
President Harding and members Of
his administration having studiously
avoided making threats of pointed ac-
tion should railroad and mine oper-
ators fail to reach settlement, but
the announcement, which appears to
have been made with the Presidents
approval, Is a virtual ultimatum de-
pending upon one last chance for both
parties to reach a voluntary settle
ment.
Mr.. Daugherty and Senator Cum
Minis conferred with the President for
an hour and q half. After the con-
from the White House, and Attorney
General Daugherty said Senator Cum
Minis had been designated as the
spokesman.
Senator Cummins said the President
was giving one more chance to the
anthracite operators and miners to
reach an agreement. If settlement
is not in sight by the first of the week.
it is planned to introduce legislation
empowering the President to take over
the mines and set up government
agency for selling and distributing the
coal Separate action is planned for
the railroads, Senator Cummins indi-
Gated, the plan being to take over
those lines that are incapable Of main
tanning adequate service
1t developed that the conference
resulted in the definite decision for the
White House to sponsor legislation en-
powering the President to seize mines
and railroads. Details of the proposed
legislation were not worked out, but a
general comprehensive plan was
agreed to, Senator Cummins said.
1t was said at the White House that
President Harding believes negotia-
tions will be resumed between anthra-
cite operators and mine workers and
that the situation is capable of volun-
tary adjustment. The developments,
however, tend to show that the admin
lSlTdllUu Is ldklllS uU CldIlCeS anu has
irrevocably determined that either by
settlement or seizure hard coal mining
must be resumed before frost comes.
Anthracite reserve stocks were ex-
hausted long ago, and the northeast.
with its severe winters, has been pre-
sented to the administration as in a
desperate plight if hard coal mining is
not Immediately resumed. Senator
Cummins said that little time would
be lost in submitting seizure legisla-
ton if there was not an eleventh-hour
anthracite settlement.
1t appears that President Harding
and his advisers feel that the railroad
situation will permit delay and that
the necessity for action Is not so
acute as in the anthracite coal indus
try. The program for taking over
railroads, it is understood. does not
call for seizure of all lines, but rather
those unable to keep coal. mails and
food moving.