Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-10-11

agreed to'it and there. is no reason to
doubt their good faith. A large ele-
ment among them is alive to the fact
that some reforms or changes nus.
be worked out in the coal industry.
Public's Interest Is Vital. Z
The public's interest in the work
about to be undertaken by the COM
mission is vital, although many peo-
pie may be prone to jump to the con-
%clusion that everything is all right
now that, the strike Is over. The to-
tai cost of, h dislocation in the great
fuel industry will not he known for
months, but as the weeks go by and
winter conditions are confronted 1t
will become more and more clear that
the bill Is an outrageous one and that
steps must be taken to guard against
ia repetition of the crisis that devel-
J oped this summer. ~
Every line of industry and business
and almost every household in the
country will feel the effects of the
coal controversy and If the general
public ome to the conclusion that
the same unfortunate state OF affairs
thing is done it is Il foregone conclu-
sion that something will be done.
Much will depend upon the diagno-
sis of the experts and that in turn de-
ponds upon the experts. They are
called upon for a report on the indus
try as a whole with special reference
to means Of stabilizing production,
and under this head comes 1.-The ad-
visibility of legislation having to do
with government or private owner
ship, regulation or CONTROL"
This is where the major operation
or Old King Coal may come in. Ma
! / - {nN {1vn ~ 49,
ship of the mines has long been ad-
vocated by most of the miners and by
a certain public group, but this ia the
first time that the proposal has been
in any way recognized by congress.
1t may be said that there are few if
any real supporters Of this proposal
in congress, or in any other branch
OF the government, but the significant
fact remains that the proposal is now
to be considered most seriously.
Short Of naturalization of the
commended in the way of government
control of the industry along. the
same lines that the transportation in
dustry is regulated through ME inter-
state commerce commission and the
United States railroad labor board.
Indeed, the railroads and coal are
so closely identified that 1t may be
deemed advisable to handle them as
one proposition. The railroads con-
sumo 80 per cent of the coal that is
produced, and. they haul practically
every ton Of it that is used by other
consumers. Admittedly distribution
is one Of the nest important phases
of the coal problem M little>can be
done toward stabilizing the industry
until it has been solved.
Only the extremely sanguine will
expect n action by congress On the
subject for many months to come
The commission has a year'in which
to do its work, and it is quite within
the bounds Of probabilities that ar
extension OF this time will be asked
while after its diagnosis or REPORT has
been submitted congress will un.
%doubtedly be Slow to act if the com.
mission. recommends anything at al
radical or revolutionary. II the time
required to pass the new tariff Law
may be taken as a guide, no step sc
extreme as government ownership
could be taken within the next de.
cade: 81