The Washington herald., 1922-08-19
Pledges Government by Law
Shall Be Sustained in u. S.
HHding in Address to Congress Reviews Coal
And Rail Strikes Demands Public
!: Welfare Be Fully Protected.


was revealed that, except for such
coal as comes from the districts
worked by nopprganized miners,
the country is at the mercy Of the
United Mine Workers.
Governors in various states re-
ported that their operators and
miners had no dispute and were
eager to resume production. Dis
trict leaders informed d me that their
workmen were anxious to return. 10
their jobs. but that they were not
permitted to do so. Hundreds or
wives of workmen have addressed
SHE White House, beseeching a set
tlement, alleging that they knew
no grievance. and there is an unend-
ing story of appeals for relief
where necessity or suffering were
impelling, where a mere expression
of need ought to find ready COM
pliance-
Evils I'm Present System.
At every stage the government
has been a Just neutral regarding
wage scales aad working contracts.
There are funfa mental evils in ouI
preseI' systsr, of producing and
VI -Nh hhc " q -
problem difficult. In the bituminous
coal fields are vastly more mines
than are requisite to the country's
needs. and there are 100000 more
mine workers tkan are needed to
produce in cor:i.luous employment
the -runtry's normal requirements.
BY continuous employment
mean approximately ESQ working
fy, hA In
stance last .ear men were en-
ployed less than $50 days-in some
cases much fewer than that. In the
overr AIMED sections men divide the
working time. ELd high wages are
necessary to meet the cost of the
barest living. Interrupted transpor-
tation. sorely b'oken employment,
the failure t. develop storage
against enlarged demands and ina
dequ. te carryirg-an these present
prob ems bearing en- righteous wage
adjustment, aad demand construc-
tive .nlution.
Asks for Commission.
Be ause of these things, because
of the impressions of many cases
of unit stifiable IICfts in the indus
try. aad becaus" public interest de-
man Is the findi1Gs of facts be given
to the public. l am asking at your
hands the autho' ity to create a COM
MISSION to make a searching irves-
tiga;ion into the whole coal Indus
try. ith provision for its lawful
sctiv ties and the bestowal of au-
thority to reveal every phase of
coal production, sale. and distribu-
ton. 1 am speaking now on behalf
of the mine workers, mine opera
tors and the American public. 1t
will bring protection to all and
point the way to continuity Of pro-
duction and the better economic
functioning of the industry in the
future.
The necessity for such a searching
national investigation with con-
structive recommendation is imper-
&tive. At the moment the coal
skies are clearing, but unless We
find cure for the economic lis
which affect the industry and there-
n find a basis for righteous rela.
tionship. we shall be faced with a
like men2cing situation on next
April 1 OF the expiration of he
wage contracts which are now be-
ing made.
independent Agency Needed
The need for such investigation
and independent consideration is
revealed by both operators and
mine workers in the provisions in
the Cleveland agreement so recently
made. The government will gladly
cooperate with the industry in this
program so far as it is the public
interest so to do, but / have an un-
alterable conviction that no lasting
satisfaction or worthwhile results
will ensue unless we may have a
government commission, independ-
ent of the industry, clothed with
authority by the Congress to search
deeply. so that it may advise as to
fair wages and as to conditions of
labor and recommend the enact
ment of laws to protect the public
in the future.
The almost total exhaustion of
stocks of coal. the crippled condi-
tion of the railways. the distressed
situation that has arisen and might
grow worse in our great cities due
to the shortage of anthracite, the
suffering which might arise in the
Northwest through failure to meet
winter needs by lake transportation
all these added to the possibility
of outrageous price demands, in
spite of the most Jealous voluntary
efforts of the government to re-
strain them, make it necessary to
ask you to consider at once some
form of temporary control of dis
tribution and prices.
Lacks Price Control Power.
The administration earnestly has
sought to restrain profiteering and
to secure the rightful distribution of
such coal as has been available in
this emergency. There were no
legal powers for price control.
There has been cordial cooperation
in many fields, fine revelation of
business conscience stronger than
the temptation to profit by a peo-
pies misfortune. There have been
instances of fiat refusal. I rejoice
to make grateful acknowledgment
10 those who preferred to contri-
butte to national welfare rather than
proht by nations distress.
III 1t may have your approval, I
recommend immediate provision for
temporary national coal agency,
with needed capital, to purchase,
sell and distribute coal which Is
carried in interstate shipment I do
not mean that all interstate coal
shall be handled by such a Federal
organization-perha none will be
necessary: but it will restore its
capital to the public treasury and
viii be the instrumentality Of
guarding the public interest where
private conscience is insensible to a
public need.
Urges state Responsibility.
This proposal does not relate to