The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-09-08
Coal Price
Bill Passed
by; Senate
First Of Emergency Measure,
Designed TO Check Prof.
ieering Approved by
Vote Of 40 10 7.
Now Goes to Conference

Washington. Sept. 10y A. P)-
With only seven negative votes rec
orded, the senate late today passed
the first OF the emergency coal bills,
the house measure desigped 10 check
proiitecring and control the distribu.
ton Of coal. The vote was 10 10 7
and the measure, as amended. was
sent 10 conference for adjustment OF
differences with the house.
Passage OF the anti-proiiieering bill
was followed Immediately by consid-
Grafton OF the iaet-iinding measure.
but final action on II was deferred
by sudden and at times heated de-
bate over provisions which would A.
rect the commission 10 study the
question OF naturalization OF the
mines. along with other phases Of
the industry.
Measure Amended.
Before quitting for the day, the
commission bill was amended 10 d.
rect the agency 10 make a separate
and distinct investigation OF the am
thraeite industry and 10 inquire into
any organized relationships be-
tween miners and operators II they
exist The change was a direct re-
suit Of the recent settlement OF the
anthracite 'ieup and Senator Borab.
republican. Idaho, sponsor OF the bill
in the senate, had previously with
drawn II from consideration in order
10 await Developments OF the anthra-
cite peace negotiations.
The commission is ordered o,makc
IFS report on the anthracite industry
not later than July !, next year,
which would be one month in adj
vance OF the expiration OF the wage
contract for that industry. Ae re-
port OH the bituminous study is due,
under the bill. in five months from
date OF passage. . ae##
Shields Proposal Rejected.
An effort by Senator Shields. dem
oerat, Tennessee, to amend the bill
so that Representatives OF both min
ers and operators would be speci-
fieally prohibited from membership
on the commission was rejected, but
only after Senator Borah had said
he agreed with it but desired "in the
interest Of harmony" not to inject
that feature into the bill.
The fight on whether the commits
sion should be directed TO inquire
into the adyisabiiity OF nationaliza-
iion is expected to be resumed Fri
day as result OF an amendment to
strike out that section. Senator
Sterling, republican, South Dakota,
opposed the provision because OF the
extra work which he said il would
require OF the commission to study
"a speculative" proposition.
Senator Borah denied insinuations
that the proposition would lead TO
open issues, but added that even II
Il did there can be no solution OF
any question by lodging and eyad-
ing
Borah Wants Facts.
at can be decided he went on
"only my ascerta,ning the facts and
dealing with them in the establish
ment Of policy" :,
The Idaho senator also asserted
that the commission proposed by the
bill was rot zap ordinary one to
gather lot OF incoherant data t,
be dumped in the waste baskets OF
congress" What he hoped It would
be was commission TO gather the
facts. assemble them and make rec
concentrations from the findings thus
developed. ...-... IT..
Senator Cummins, republican,
Iowa, who Rad introduced oii'
similar TO the house anti-proiiteering
measure. announced he would seek
early action on the conference. The
house, however. will not be IN Ses-
sion until Monday and no acton can
come on the bill before that time
The measure, besides creating a
federal fuel distributing agency and
the post of federal fuel admln'stra-
tor. confers broad powers on the IN
terstate Commerce commission Win
rtspect 10 embargoes on coal SNIP
ments. The fuel distributor is en-
powered 10 determine coal supplies
and requirements aud 10 investigate
charges Of nroiteering and may rec
ommcnd 10 the commission the Wlth-
holding Of cars from mines or-deaiefs
found To be taking eSorhitam proii's'