Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-24
SENATE GETS COAL
D|STR|BUT|ONB|LL
Powers Of Commerce Commits
sion Extended In Measure
introduced by cummlns
FEDERAL CONTROL PROPOSED
By Assoetated Press

inent Of Federal fuel distribution
agency to meet the present coal "emer
gency'' and the extension of broad pow.
ers to the Interstate Commerce Com
mission with respect to the issuing OF
embnrgoes and prioritics is proposed in
a bill introduced today by Senator Cum.
Minis. chairman Of the Senate Inter-
state Commerce Committee.
The Office Of Federal fuel distribu.
tor" would be created BY the bill and
that official would be empowered to de-
termine facts relative to fuel prices,
shortages and supplies generally, pro.
duction and marketing methods and the
rcnsonableness of profits taken within
the industry. He would make reports
on his findings to the Interstate Com
merce Commission, which could act
thereon as warranted.
Other Bills Before Senate
At the time the Cummins bill was
introduced the Senate was debating two
measures providing for coal fact.
finding commission. Senator Borah,
author of tho Senate bill, advocated
passage of his measure in preference to
that passed by the House last night, but
the whole subject was taken over to
tomorrow on request of several Senators
who said they desired to study the two
bills together.
The Cummins bill provides that the
President, by proclamation, may declare
the present emergency mt an end and
that the law then would become inopera- =
tive. In addition to giving the Inter-
state. Commerce Commission power to
issue orders for ''priorities. embargoes
and other suitable measures, the meas
lrc would confer on the commission
blanket rights to take such other steps
as are necessary in the public interest
to meet the emergency and maintain
continuous transportation Of fuel. The
distributor would be allowed to employ
any number of assistants and at such
salaries as he saw fit from the appro-
priation of $3.50. 900 carried by the bill.
1t is indicated thatSi in some measure
the bill met the views of the administra- :
tion, although it did not provide for a
coal purchasing and selling agency as
recommended to Congress by the Prcsi-
dent in his recent address.
Chairman Winslow. of the House In.
terstate Commerce Committee, Is also
preparing bill to enT.:ge Federal con-
troll over the distribution of coal. He
would not say when the bill would be
introduced.
The Administration measure, said to
provide for n Federal agency empOw-
cred to purchase, sell and distribute
coal In such a manner as further to
curb profiteering. was understood to be
in process of drafting by Commerce De.
pnrtment officials, who already had Sc.
cured an opinion from the Department
Of Justice on the legal points involved.
1t was indicated that 1t would be sent
to the Capitol in the near future.
= Purchasing Plan ColdIy Received
Chairman Winslow said he had re.
ceived numerous suggestions from the
Administration as to what Is cOnsid-
cred desirable to increase Federal nu.
thOrity over the distribution of coal,
but that none had taken the form of
drafted bill. When> asked whether he
would embody in his bill Federal coal
purchasing and sales commission, he
replied that his measure still WIS in q
nebulOus stage and that he had reached
no conclusion.
Among some Republican members Of
the House doubt was expressed whether
it would be possible to pass Mt this time
Il bill providing for Government
agency to purchase and sell coal. It
was said that instead the Interstate
Commerce Committee might be expected
to attempt enlargement of the Presi-
dents control over the Interstate sllip.
ments Of coal as an immediate solution.
leaving the purchasing commission for
later consideration should It be found
that prices cannot be effectively con.
trolled without it.
Altoona. Pa. Aug. 24.-(By A. P.)
Mine Workers of America, today we're
rejoicing over the agreement, signed last
night by union leaders and central
Pennsylvania field operators, which will
send them into the pits just as soon as
the mines are made ready. A few of
the miners went to work this morning.
but a majority Of the men who walked
out April l, last, had to wait until the
workings were made safe and the mines
cleaned up.
The agreement covers only those
operators who have recognized the
union. United Mine Workers leaders
declared non union operators of the
State would be invited to conference
Immediately and given an opportunity
to sign the agreement. In event they
re1use, IL was said, the strike, so far
as their mines are concerned, will con :.
tinue.
20 Under the agreement, mines from
which come an annual tonnage of 90
GOO, 900. will begin hoisting coal as soon
as possible. Pennsylvania Railroad Of
icials said sufficient cars will be ready
to handle the production.
The new treaty provides for the con-
tinuance until March 81, 1923, of the
wage scale in effect when the men went
on strike All the provisions of the
old contract with one exception are re-
tanned. The rule which calls for con-
tinuance of work for thirty days after
the scale committees begin delibera tiOns
for new agreement was abolished.
Operators announced that the agree
ment stipulates they need not attend
the Cleveland meetings, called for Oc-
tober and January 3, unless Illinois
producers attend the sessions.