Imperial Valley press., 1922-08-18
FEDERAL
SALE Of
COAL
Nations Emergency Need Is
Protection from Fuel
PrOfiteering
TRAINS MUST OPERATE
President Gives Assurance
of Swift Penalty for
Interference
United Press Leased Wire

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18. -Presi
dent Harding today placed before con-
gress the critical situation caused by
coal and rail strikes.
Appearing before a joint session of
congress, the president, after reciting
the efforts of the administration to
bring peace to the coal industry and
the transportation systems, declared
he was "resolved to use all the power
of the government to maintain tran
sportation and sustain the right of
men to work.
The president recommended "im-
mediate provision fora temporary ma
tional coal agency with needed cap
ital to purchase, sell and distribute
coal which is. carried in interstate
Shipment He said this agency might
strumentality of guarding the public
| interest where private conscience is
| insensible to a public need
Federal Commission Urged
| Harding also requested authority to
| create q coal commission to investi
gate the whole industry and with
authority ''to reveal every phase of
coal production, sale and distribu-
tion.'
The need of such a seaching nations
al investigation is imperative, the pres
ident said, if another coal strike next
April is to be avoided.
The railroad labor board, Harding
said, should be given power to en-
force its DEGREES against both capital
and labor, but he did not ask for. re-
vision of the law at the present time,
saying such action would not be help
full Gin the present threatened par
alysis of transportation.
Law Enforcement Pledged
Harding, after referring to deter
ioration of railroad equipment, losses
to shippers and strike violence, due
to the inability of the railroad labor
board to enforce DEGREES, said it was
not his thought "to ask congress to
deal with these fundamental problems
at this time
"No hasty action would contribute
to the solution of the present criti-
cal situation. There is existing law
by which to settle the prevailing dis
putes. There are statutes forbidding
conspiracy to hinder interstate COM
merce. There are laws to assure the
highest possible safety in railway SER
vice.
''It is my purpose to invoke these
laws, civil and criminal, against all
offenders alike"
Opposes Destruction of Unions
An emphatic declaration of disap-
proval against an apparent move on
the part of some classes of industry
to destroy the labor unions was made
by the president.
He asserted that it was in the pub.
lie interest to preserve and profit by
the good III labor unions.
Mr.. Harding bitterly denounced
'the butchery at Herrin, Illinois, +"
and "other outbreaks of violence.
"We must reassert,' he said, "the
doctrine that in this conflict the first
obligation and the first allegiance IF
every citizen, high or low, is to his
government. To uphold that govern
ment is to be the just and unchalleng-
erty, security and rights of all its
citizens
Harding asked the speedy enact
ment of law giving the federal
government power to deal with situ-
atlOnS ike tnaC aI Ilefrln. he aSh-
ed passage of pending bill "for the
better protection of aliens and for
the enforcement of their treaty
rights
Turning to the coal situation, tho
president said:
''The simple but significant truth
is that, except for such coal as comes
from the districts worked by non
organized miners, the industry is at
the mercy of the United Mine Work
ers.'
Government to Sell Coal
OF his plan for effective fuel re-
! lief, the president said:
"Almost total exhaustion of stocks
of coal, crippled condition of the rail-
| roads, the distressed situation that has
arisen and might grow worse in our
great cities due to the shortage of
anthracite, suffering which might ar
i2e in the northwest through failure
to meet winter needs by lake trans
A