The Washington herald., 1922-08-26
NEEDS AUTHORITY
Cummins Will Introduce
Measure in Senate
Next Week.
CONTROL OF ROADS
ALSO CONSIDERED
Edge Urges Prompt 40
tiOn i'm Anthracite
Coal Region.

Congress. with the sanction OF
President Harding, Is preparing for
the emergency operation both Of
the anthracite mines and railroads.
While hopeful that the anthra-
cite situation will be cleared UP in
the meantime. Senator Cummins
next week will have drafted and
ready for Introduction a measure
empowering federal operation and
control OF the anthracite fields.
Furthermore. If the railroad situ-
alton does not clear in due course.
| the measure empowering Federal
operation Of the roads will be pre-
sented to Congress. Both. it is be-.
lieved. would precipitate a LONG
and bitter struggle in the two
branches OF Congress
Confer With President.
Cummins and Attorney General
DauEherty conferred at the White
House with President Harding FOR
nearly two hours late yesterday.
during which this legislation was
discussed.
The President hasn't authority
/ unless Congress gives II TO him
CummIns said. Il do not expect 10
introduce any legislation authoriz-
ing the President 10 Z Ike over the
anthracite mines untn early next
week Meantime. Of course. the
strike may he settled. The rail-
roads will be given more time 20
make good their stand that they
can operate close 20 normal in spite
Of the strike. The railroad lines
which lie nearest the coal fields
will be taken over hrst"
Regards situation serious.
ut may not he necessary 10 take
over any other lines" Cufnutns
added. "unless e. IS found that gem
eral transportation is seriously OBJ
structed.'
He also called attention 10 the
growing seriousness Of the sitUs-
ton. brought on by the utter in
ability Of both the executives and
striking shonmen and the tanthra-
cite operators and miners TO reach
an agreement.
Collapse Of the latest negotiations
in New York for settling the rsit
strike has given new impetus to THE
urge for Federal control. But tire
President will not venture to oper-
ate the roads unless there is abso-
lutely no other way out. IL is csfi-
mated that the next thirty DAYS wp
bring the CRISIS. and either the rail-
situation will improve or the gov
ernment VIII step in to assure ade-
quate. TRANSFORMATION facilities.
Would Check Flood Of RTns.
= 1F he D.
House followed developments in
/ Congress rovealinE a panicky state
Of mind which required couStrur-
4 tive action by administration lead
ers to prevent its getting out 81
3 hand. Not only Is the n"rd ~
preparedness FOR the thrtafcnrd
merCency involved in the decision
. To- introduce measures for takinC
over the anthracite mines. hut also
J there is involved the necessity for
| limiting. as much as possible. the
scope Of EovcDmental control he
fore Congress becomes hampered
7 with numerous unnecessary control
bills.
BIames -Hard-Boiled- Leaders.
With regard tn the railroad strike
"a leading Republican senator said
last nsht:
The situation appears 70 he rather
! hopeless There Is no question thar
on tho side of the executives is
controlling number ~ 'hard-hoflcd'
men who insist upon breaking W
the unons. regardless Of cost 70
themselves or to the country. On
7 the other hand. there is an element
in the unions. recoCnizing this. who
insist that there must he fight 20
against. What Congress is going
to do about IL. hsve no idea
The coal commission bili bv SEN
ator Borah was up for consideration
! IN the Senate for a few hours yes
/ terday. and an amendment by SEN
ator Edge. OF New Jersey. precip-
itated another discussion OF the de-
sirablity Of authorizing the presi-
dent TO take over the anthracite
mines.
Urges SeiKure Of Mine~.
Senator Edge provided in his
amendment that the President
should have authority for such
/ period as desirable to acquire by
condemnation or otherwise any or
all OF the coal mines of the United
States and to operate them and dis
tribute the coal Sufficient money
was made available TO provide just
compensation for the property and
to carry out the provisions OF the
act.
Senator Edge urged the need for
prompt action and declared that
the necessity for immediate re-
sumption OF coal mining in the
anthracite region is imperative.
Senator Borah. Of Idaho, chair
man Of the Committee on Educa-