The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1922-07-28
GOVERNMENT IN
CONTROL OF ROADS
Coal Is Given First Place in Pri-
GRITTY Order.
B0RAH ASKS COMMISSION
Believed That New Legislation Will
Be Necessary-Hardng Submits
Plan to Operators and Miners
Latter Balky.

Washington July 26.-The federal
government has assumed control of all
coal distribution and the railroad facil-
tiles engaged in the transportation of
this class of fuel, fOodstuffs and fuel
oil.
The priority order on foods and
fuels applies to the railroads east of
the Mississippi river. A separate or
der directs all the railroads in the
United States to move traffic over the
most direct routes.
The plan for coal distribution as
outlined by Secretary Hoover was
unanimously adopted here at a con-
ference of mine operators, railway
officials and government representa-
aves.
The interstate commerce commits
sion at once issued an order establish
Ing priority for the movement of coal
and procedure at the various rail
centers.
To Appoint Judicial Tribunals.
President Harding will appoint
judicial tribunals to adjust the coal
situation within a week, irrespective
of emergency efforts now being made
to avert a fuel crisis.
The purpose of these quasi-judicial
bodies will be to stabilize the coal in
dustry. Miners and operators will be
excluded except to the extent of plead
ing their cause before these tribunals.
The White House made this public
following an extensive cabinet meet
ing at which only the two major in
dustrial problems coal and railroads,
were discussed.
Action by congress also was fore
cast in a bill introduced by Senator
BOrah to create a fact-tinding commits
sion. The commission would make an
exhaustive study of coal mining, with
view Of recommending legislation to
stabilize the industry and to prevent fu-
ture strikes. 1t would do officially
what President Harding has said he
would have done by a commission ap-
pointed by him. Ownership of the
mines, cost of production and distri-
button, profits, wages, irregular pro-
duction, prices and other information
sought by the government but blocked
by the operators for years will be
prObed.
Harding Submits Plan.
President Harding has submitted to
the coal operators and miners a plan
for settling the coal strike, based upon
guaranteeing to the miners a mini
mum wage for at least $50 days in
the year, it was announced at the
White House.
The plan is understood to have
been submitted by President Harding
to John L. Lewis, president of the
United Mine Workers of America. 1t
was said the plan was regarded favor
ably by a number of coal operators,
but that the unions opposed it on the
ground that it was too complicated
The United Mine Workers, however,
are understood not to have fatty re-
jected the plan.
Issue Complicated.
The coal strike situation, it was
officially explained, is complicated by
aggravated by the fact that a
thoroughly unsOund economic cOndi-
ton exists. There are from 100000
to 100000 more miners in the coun-
try, it was stated, than is necessary
for the production of the American
coal supply.
There are numerous coal mines
which are unable to pay the wage
scale obtained by the miners unions.
Some of the miners, it was stated,
seem to be willing to work three
days a week, provided they can make
enough In that time to live COM
fortably.
This situation, President Harding
believes, should be corrected
Under the proposed plan. men
would be guaranteed a minimum of
$50 days work year, and the en-
ployer who failed to furnish that
much work would be required to pay
an additional sum for each day lost
In this way, it was said, a num-
Der Of mines being operated on I'M
sound economic principles would
gradually be eliminated, as those mine
operators who could not furnish $50
days work annually could not afford
to keep men employed.
W0IlI n PAY II 9 I'M 0VCc