Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-08-29
HARDING NOT To
PRESS CONGRESS
FOR MEASURE To.
END WALKOUT5
Proposals for Government
Operation of Railroad and
Coal Properties Laid
Aside for Present,
PROPOSED STEP WAS
OPPOSED BY LEADERS
Further CUrtaiIment of the
Less Important Classes
of Railroad Service Is
Being Considered,


Washington, Aug % (by the
Associated Pressl Proposals for
government operation of rail and
coal properties were put aside, at
least for the present today, and
the administration leaders, both
in and out of congress, centeIed
their efforts instead on less dras-
tic measures to meet the indus
trial emergency.
With the return to Washington
of President Hapding. after an
overSunday conference with
some of his principal advisers on
board the yacht Mayflower, it
became apparent that no step
toward government operation was
to become a part of the present
administration program,
Not only was it revealed that
the president himself was not
disposed definitely to ask for con-
gressional authority to take over
the properties involved in the
strike situation, but it was made
known also that an influential
group OF leaders in the senate
and house had taken a position
which would make passage OF
the authorizing legislation ex-
tremely difficult
Bills Reported Out.
Meantime. committees in both
branches OF congress reported
out, for passage later in the
week, bills recommended by the
administration to strengthen its
hand in controlling coal distri-
button by creating federal dis
tributing agency and by giving
to the interstate commerce com
mission broader powers over pri-
| ority of shipments. In the house.
the bill will be taken up tomor-
row under rule providing for
six hours of debate.
In the senate, committee ac-
tion was taken after only a short
discussion and with members re-
serving the right to debate the
measure at length on the senate
| floor. The house committee did
not vote its approval until It had
| heard arguments for the measure
by Secretary Hoover and Inter
state Commerce Commissioner
NAitchison and some sharp criti-
cism of its price-fiXing poten-
| tialities from repre- lntatives Of
both employers and labor In the
! industry.
Opinion Is Divided
Notwithstanding the opposition
! indicated, President Harding was
| informed late in the day by Re-
| publican. Leader Mondell that
the distribution measure would
be brought into the house tomor-
row and passed before Wednes-
day night. No such quick action
| was in prospect in the senate.
where the legislative situation
was more complicated, but the
leaders predicted that there would
be favorable action without much
delay. Several cabinet members.
senators and other officials. in
cluding Secretary Hoover, Attor-
ney General Daugherty and Chair
man Cummins of the senate in-'
terstate commerce committee, ac-
companied President Harding ON
| the Mayflower trip and are un-
derstood to have taken part in
prolonged round table discussion
Of administration policies. II
was said today that opinion
among the chief executives ad-
visers was divided on the subject
of government operation, but
that in the end Mr.. Harding in
/ dicated he would exert no pres
sure for legislation authorizing
such step.
AS viewed by the Mayflower
conferees, the coal strike situa-
ton, both anthracite and bitum-
nous, appeared in way to solve
itself and insure increased pro-
duction in the very near future.
! leaving the problem of moving
the product to the consumer as
the crux of the whole effort to
restore industrial stability. IL ap-
peared to be the opinion of the
presidents advisers that great
deal could be done in that direc-
tion under authority already pos
sessed or to be conferred by the
distribution and priority leglsla-
| ton pending
Details Not Formulated.
There was an intimation that q.
further curtailment of the less
| important classes of railroad ser
vice, such as passenger and
| freight dispensible traffic, in or
der to utilize motive power and
cars for food and fuel might be-
one Of the steps taken to relieve
the emergency. 1t was indicat-
ed, however. that although the
! administration had resolved to
center its efforts toward facili-
tating coal shipments, details of
| the action were yet to be formu-
| lated