The Washington herald., 1922-08-25
Senator Walsh Introduces
Resolution Directing Ac-
tion by President.
ASKS MORE POWER
FOR l. C. C. CONTROL
Cummins Proposes Use of
Embargo to Limit
Coal Prices.

| Inc Industrial crisis. through fall
ure of negotiations to settle the
railroad snd anthracite coal strikes.
found its way back co the admins
tration doorstep yesterday and
aroused an unheaval in the senate.
Collapse OF mediation efforts IN
botn strikes precipitated turbulent
debate in which strong sentimen.
developed or government seizure of
the railroads and anthracite mines
The discussion was the first real
manifestation by Congress Of its ap-
probation of the gravity of the SIT
uation and may be a forerunner OF
action authorizing the President to
assume control Of roads and hard
coal mines. pending a settlement of
the labor controversies.
May Change Policy.
The President. as far as is known.
mas not changed his policy outlined
IN his message to Congress. which
demanded that the law be enforced
IN the strikes. but recomme nded no
legislation relating to them. Yes
terday's Senate debate. IL is believed
IN some quarters. might result IN a
change Of administration policy
should the strike continue. Al the
conclusion of the debate. the gov
ernment-ownership issue was put
squarely up to Congress when SEN
ator Walsh. Massachusetts, Demo
crat. formally introduced a resolu-
ton directing the President to take
over the coal mines.
The Senate debate began when
Senators Calder. New York. and
walsh. Massachusetts. States which
are dependent almost entirely unnn
the Pennsylvania anthracite fields
for their fuel supplies. called sttcp-
tlon 10 the prospect Of their conrtI-
tuents freezing Tins winter. They
advocated the taking over OF the
anthracite mines. Senator Lsnrnot.
Wisconsin. suggested that the time
mao arrived for taking over both the
railroads and the anthracite mines
pending a settlement Of the strikes
Replies 20 Attack.
Replying TO a vehement attsck
upon the strike policies Of PreSidenT
Harding by walsh. Senator Cum
minis uowaD insisted that the Pres
ident had done al, he had autborj,,,
10 DO under existing law. He de.
clared Congress should make Il =
crime 10 strike and tie up transpor-
Senator Borah Udahol cb.,-,.
Of the Labor Committee. xaid ,h.,
even il Congress acted 10 m, o.,
limit OF its powers under the Gov
stitution. IL could not deal -
quately with the situation ana A.
clared that IL was up to the go,,.r-
nors Of the various States 70 follow
the example Of Gov. Miller of ~
York, convene their legislatures
and have measures passed to me-,
the emergency within their own
borders.
Senator Calder. who led OF th.
debate. warned the Senate that nm
less coal was obtained within the
next sixty days. people will freeze
to death this winter"
"wnI be BIoodshed.-
Unless this situation is relieved
within a short time. there will be
bloodshed in the larger cities" he
said. "A desperate situation cSn-
1 fronts us. Is this government helm
less in an emergency of this kind
Shall we stand idly by while dis
ease and death threaten us?
The time TO act has arrived.
These men must be told they must
agree upon an adjustment forth
with. Forty hours is sum
cient notice, and IL they fall 10
open up the mines. Il will be the
duty of this Congress to give to the
President complete authority to
take over the mines and operate
them TO their full capacity for the
benefit of the people"
Broadening OF the powers Of the
| Interstate Commerce Commission 20
use priorities and embargoes to con-
troll coal prices is provided in a bil,
introduced in the Senate yesterday
by Senator Cummins.
Has President's support.
The bill embraces suggestions
worked out by the Federal fuel dis
tribution committee, and has the
support of President, Harding. II
legislation of this sort is enacted. ft
is expected the administration viii
not press its original suggestion for
the creation of an agency to pur-
chase and sell coal.
The Cummins bill gives oficial
status TO the office of Federal fuel
distributor. to be appointed by the
President and remain in once until
the President declares the emer-
gency no longer exists
1t is expected that both houses
will take action on such legislation
before the end OF next week. Rep
resentative Mondell tWyomine).
Republican leader OF the House. In
formed the House yesterday that
the Committee on Domestic and For
eign Commerce expects TO report a
bill Of this nature early next week.
The winslow coal commission
bill as passed by the House
wednesday was referred TO the
Senate Committee on Education
and Labor, Of which Senator Borah
Is chairman. This committee will
report the bill back to the Senate
TODAY with the Borah bill as sp-
proved a few days ago substituted
| for the winslow bill.
EuIsrres Cemmission's Power.
The Cummins bill enlarges the
power. of the Interstate Commerce
Commission ito include authority
20 issue orders for priority. emear-
roes and other suitable measures
and to take any other necessary
steps for the equitable distribution
of coal SO as best to serve the pub
lie interests"
Such procedure. Secretary Hoover
wrote the President. would be less
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