The New York herald., 1922-07-25
Relief Measure Purely
and Has Nothing to
Do With Issues of
Either Strike.
FINDS PLAN LEGAL
Daugherty Declares It Is
Exceedingly Practical
as Well.
SEIZURE NOT IMMINENT
President to Take Over Mines
Only in Case of Dire
Necessity.
SEIZURE NOT IMMINENT
Special Dispatch 10 THE NEW YoxK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
WashiuCton. ID O.. July "a (

New York Herald Bureau
Washington. ID. g.. July "a
Detailed plans for obtaining coal
supplies for the public and distributing
them at reasonable" prices We're
worked out in a long series Of con-
ferences to-day among Government
officials. representatives of the coal
operators and railroads.
The measures to be undertaken are
to meet the emergency and have moth
ing to do with the broader issues Of
justice In the coal or railroad strikes.
They are relief measures pure and
simple, to protect the public from suf-
fering. distress or famine in fuel or
food.
constitutes the Harding, or Admins
tration, proposal to meet the crisis in
industrial affairs occasioned by the
strikes. Broadly, the plan provides
for the mining of coal by men willing
70 work under the full protection OF
Government and then the distribution
of the coal mined by giving to it pref
erence over other movements on the
railroads. Prices will be held down by
furnishing transportation to the mines
charging reasonable prices. as against
the mines thatrare extortionate.
Seizure Not Imminent.
Administration proposals have not
yet gone so far as seizure Of the mines .
or of the railroads. Such a course is
possible II 1t becomes necessary. but a
great and immediate necessity will have
tc be shown.
President Harding and Administra-
tion leaders still believe the railroad
men are the most competent TO operate
the roads and the coal operators the
most competent to operate the coal
mines. This attitude will only be
changed by dire public necessity.
Government plans for moving coal
under priority distribution to keep the
public utilities and other essential
plants going were passed upon to-day
by Attorney General Daugherty. The
Attorney-General held that the pro-
gram was not only entirely within the
law as he saw II, but was an intensely
practical one which would protect the
public.
The Opinion I'm Full.
The following Is complete text OF
Acknowledgement Daugherty's opinion
upholding the legality of the Govern
ment's plan to move coal:
Sir: I have before me your letter OF
the 2lst inst. In which you inquire
whether certain steps which you pro-
pose to take to safeguard the public
interests In the face of the impend-
ing coal famine run counter to the
laws of Congress.
You set forth that the supGy OF
coal now on hand Is diminishing at
a rapid rate that its production is
being measurably reduced because Of
inability TO get a proper supply OF
cars to transport what Is being
mined: that in consequence of the
increasing shortage numerous in
dustries whose operations are de-
pendent upon steady supply are
threatened with paralysis: that light
ing plants will possibly be forced to
suspend and cities left in darkness:
and. above all, that the people thcm-
selves will be without fuel az winter
approaches. bringing in its train mis-
cry, suffering. distress and even
famine and death.
In consequence Of these alarming
conditions, whose growing menace In
such as TO awaken all to an alright
ed realization of the perfls ahead.
the price of coal now being mined is
steadily mounting, in certain quar-
ters. consumers indulging in a fren-
zied race TO secure II at almost any
cost. Under these circumstances some
operators, placing their country's
interest above their own. have stead
fastly refused 70 enhance prices
while on the other hand the cupidity
and avarice of other operators have
lead them TO take an unmerited and
even cruel advantage OF tho abnor-
NAL conditions by ruthcssly exacssnS
whatever can be obtained
AZ I understand lt your plan 10
to form associations acting under
your directions. whose sole purpose
will be to meet the emergency in dis
trbution and stop profiteering; and
at the proper time you intend to ap-
ply to~the l. G. c. 10 promulgate
rules governing car distribution dur
ing the existing shortage. 20 the srs
| that the available equipment can be
| placed at mines affording the great
est opportunity of service and willing
70 charge for their coal no moro than
is fair and Just.
Az between two mines whose out
put is the same, your plan contem-
plates. during the existing shortage.
favoring the mine In the supply Of
cars which charges the public fair
prices as against the mine which
| allows It's greed to exact whatever
can be obtained, however unwarrart-
ed and extortionate tho price may
pc You have no purpose other than