The Washington herald., 1922-08-29

Senate - now expected some time
today - the Borah coal commission
bill will be given final considera-
.tion. and after that the Cummins
coal distribution bill. which was
reported favorably out Of the Sem
ate Interstate Commerce Commit
tee yesterday.
In the House. the Winslow distr,.
button bill remains for considera-
ton. A favorable report was made
late yesterday and the measure
may be brought up before the House
today.
Anticipating the enactment of a
distribution law which gives the
Interstate Commerce Commission
greater authority in the enforce
ment OF priorities and provides for
the establishment OF a paid Fed
eral fuel distribution agency. the
government volunteer fuel distribu.
tion organization. under the direc-
ton of Henry p. Spencer. will wind
up its work this week and disband.
Leaves Distribution to j. C. e..
Furthermore. Spencer explained.
increased production of coal and
the discontinuance Of distribution
under the superpriority plan has re-
moved the necessity for further
work by the committee.
Until the permanent organiza tion
Is set up by law. the Interstate
Commerce Commission will take
charge OF coal distribution. Agents
OF the commission will move coal
to needy sections under the classi-
ned priorities of the emergency or
der which created the voluntary or
ganization.
Obstacles In the path of a peace
full settlement of the anthracite mine
strike are clearing away rapidly with
only two controversial features block
ing an end Of the tie cup. Senator Pep
per, Pennsylvania, declared yester-
day following his return to the Cap
ital from a weekend spent in me-
distion efforts between miners and
operators.
senator Pepper Hopeful.
Il am very hopeful over the situ-
ation,'' said Pepper, land while II
Is too optimistic to say there will
be a settlement within a day or two.
I feel confident miners and owners
will be able to get together and work
out a solution
He said the dispute had been mar
rowed down to two main points, ap-
pointment and personnel of an arbi-
tration board to set and adjust wage
awards. and extension of the old wage
scale until April, 1924. instead of next
April. during which the negotia tions
Will be carried on to establish a per-
manent code for conduct of the hard
coal industry.
Both parties to the dispute. Pepper
added, realized that an arbitration
board was essential, but q contro-
versy had arisen over the scope and
personnel of the board.
Extension of the old wage scale for
eighteen instead of Ave months, Pep
per said. was now the major dis
pute between the two.
warns Of Fael Famine
Secretary of Commerce Hoover
appeared before the House Inter-
state Commerce Committee yester-
day and urged immediate passage
designed to check profiteering in
coal
Warning that the country will
suffer a severe fuel famine this
winter. no matter how soon normal
coal production is restored, Mr..
Hoover declared that enactment of
legislation -depriving gouging coal
operators OF cars in which to ship
their products. would enable the
government to make the best OF
very bad situation"
Outlining the acuteness of the
fuel famine. Mr.. Hoover pointed out
that anthracite production is as
000.0 tons behind and shat this
never can be recovered" but must
be made up, II at all. by substitu-
tion of bituminous coal.
Hampered by Car Shortage.
. Mr.. Hoover told the committee
that despite a resumption of MIN
ing. there would be a continued
famine in coal because of a short
age Of railroad cars, making exact
ment of legislation against prof.
teering "a public necessity"
To restore the fuel situation to
normal. Secretary Hoover declared.
there would have to be a production
and successful movement Of 49,
100000 or 100000 tons OF coal
week for the next fifteen or twenty
weeks. and this. he said. is obvious
ly impossible.
II the situation continues to de-
generate It may be necessary for
the government to zone shipments
Of coal. along the plan followed dur
Ing the war. to prevent overlap
ping In shipments and a waste Of
transportation facilities. Mr.. Hoover
said. Coal Spectators. he said, are
''infesting mining sections, preying
on the public emergency by buying
coal from operators and selling II
at exorbitant prices" -
A. r. 81 L. Favers nm.
Edgar Wallace, legislative rep
resentative of the American FEEDER.
alton of Labor. said he favored the
winslow bill In so far as It related
to control over distributions OF coal.
but asserted the measure should not
be drafted sot that the Federal fuel
distributor would have power to Ak
the price Of coal as IL leaves the
mines.
Chief Counsel p. J. Farrell. ~
the Interstate Commerce commit-