The New York herald., 1922-04-19
FEDERAL DIRECTION .
OF COAL, AIM OF BILL
BANDS House Measure Sug-
gested by New York Her
aid Editorial
TO REGULATE Output
Agency Would BE EmpoW-
cred to Get All Facts
From Operators.
NUMBER TIC BE REDUCED
All-Year Production and Laws
to End Labor Disputes
Also Sought.
NUMBER nc BE REDUCED
Seeciola Dispatch to THE NEW Yosx HERALD
New York Herald Bureau
Washington, ID. c.. ADril 49,

New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c.. April is.
Representative Bland Ind.) intro
duced bill in the House to-day which
aims to provide an investigating
agency for the coal business. The
measure is an outcome Of the editorial
suggestion made some days ago by
The New York HERALD. 1t aims, first
Of all, to procure facts relative to the
coal industry on the assumption that
thisa is a matter of interstate COM
inerce concern. and. therefore, as
amenable to regulation as railroads.
Representative BANDS bill was sub
mitted to the House Committee on
Labor as a substitute for the commit
tees bill dealing with the coal industry.
1t will be taken up Thursday. Chair
man Nolan of the committee stated
that on the same date the Internal
Revenue Office would submit reports
on the income tax returns of coal cor
porations.
In introducing his bill Representative
Bland explained that to deal with the
coal situation it was necessary first Of
all to ascertain the real facts.
One of the objects he has in mind is
to obtain control of the industry which
Will regulate the production of coal so
II may be mined in equal quantities in
summer as well as winter. He believes
there are too many coal operating con-
Germs and by reducing their number he
would regulate employment so it would
run the year around
His bill provides that authority shall
be given to call upon the Federal Trade
Commission. the Internal Revenue
Bureau and the Interstate Commerce
Commission for all information they
possess concerning the coal industry
as a whole. Coal operators would be
compelled to produce all their books
and records and give such verbal testi-
mony as might be deemed important.
His coal investigating agency would
continue for a period of two years
ana report to Congress and to the Presi-
dent. No trade secrets would be di-
vulged. except in confidential reports
70 SoHBress anu the fFesluenl.
The agency would be made up of the
Director OF the Geological Survey, the
Director of the Bureau OF Mines. the
Director of the Burea.. of Census and
the Commissioner OF Labor Statistics.
in addition. the President is authorized
to name six additional members, who
shall equally represent the miners, the
operators and the public. These ap-
pointed members are to receiv Sc 600 a
year
The duty of the agency viii be to look
into every phase of the relations be-
tween miners and operators, as well as
all phases Of the industry as a whole,
including ownership of mines and phys
ical valuation. The report aims to pro
vide information for the Congress" as a
basis for legislation to settle industrial
disputes in and prevent the overdeyel-
opment of the coal industry. to stabilize
and to levy taxes in respect TO such in
dustry and to regulate commerce in coal
among the several States and with for
eign nations"