New-York tribune., 1922-03-27
Senate Inquiry Consid-
cred as Borah Begins
ciliatory Move:
Walk.Out 5 Days Away
Finance to Blame.
Declares Compers
Union III e ad Charges
Rail and Steel Inter-
csts Control Mines

'p'' - 3fspHUc s w NCSHfNQEOT bureau
WASHINGTON, March 26-With a
great coal strike scheduled to begin
at midnight Friday the eyes Of the
government and of Congress are di-
rected to the situation with increasing
anxiety.
No direct move TO avert the strike,
apart from such conciliatory efforts
as have been under way from the De-
Of Commerce, is expected from the ex-
ecutive branch of the government,
though it is at all times recognized as
possible that the President may inter
vene if he sees fit to DO so. Govern
ment officials are directing thought at
present rather TO the question Of see
ing that all government agencies are
plentifully supplied with fuel than to
preventing the strike. On the other
hand, there are increasing signs Of
Congressional action.
Senator Borah, chairman Of the SEN
ate Education and Labor Committee,
has sent out to assemble the facts re-
garding the trouble between miners and
operators and early IN the weel, may
make p move to have the committee
bring about & conference OF miners and
operators with a view to preventing
the strike.
Borah Begins Conferences
Senator Borah already has begun
conferences with representatives of the
United Mine Workers and the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor and will hold
further conferences at once with lead
ing figures among the mine workers.
He also will consult representatives
of the operators. He said tonight his
primary object was to get the facts
so as to be in position to be useful in
case opportunity arose. He will soon
determine whether it will be in the
public interest at this time to bring
about conference.
A move for sudden and sweeping
investigation into the threatened strike
by the Senate Committee on Education
and Labor is possibility. The pur-
pose of such an inquiry, il made, will
be 70 turn the limelight on the situa-
ton and let the public know where the
blame lies for difficulty which may
cause the people great loss and suffer
ing through coal shortage.
While Senator Borah is giving atten-
ton to the coal developments the
House Labor Committee on Thursday
of this week will begin hearings on q
measure to create government COM
mission to investigate the mining in
dustry and recommend government
policies toward mining, including min
ing labor.
Hearings will be begun before the
Committee on Labor, of which Repre-
sentative John !. Nolan, of California,
is chairman, on the bill recently intro
duced by Representative Oscar u.
Bland, Republican. Of Indiana, calling
for commission TO inquire into labor
conditions in the coal industry.
Mr.. Blands move has the complete
sympathy Of the entire Committee on
Labor, and it is declared they will
work hard TO "get to the bottom Of
the trouble as soon as possible.
Seek Concrete Data
Operators. miners and labor officials
are scheduled to appear on Thursday
and at the succeeding hearings. Chair
man Nolan will exert every effort, 1T
was said. to obtain as result OF the
committee's investigation the exact fig
ures on production costs as compared
with wages and similar concrete data
which can be made the basis for def
mite recommendations designed to
eliminate the differences between opeT-
ators and miners.
The Bland bill authorizes the Presi-
dent to create q commission Of three
members. which shall investigate and
report to the President within speci-
fed time the "existing labor conditions
in the coal industry. with particular
reference to wages, hours of labor and
working conditions of coal miners, to-
gether with the causes of the present
industrial dispute between operators OF
the coal mines and coal miners"
In statement issued from his Office
tonight Samuel Gompers, president Of
the American Federation Of Labor,
charged that domination Of the coal in
dustry by powerful financial interests
that think only of profits is one Of the
main reasons for the present trouble.
"Domination of the coal industry by
financial interests is one OF the main
reasons for the autocratic attitude now
manifested by mine managements. y
said Mr.. Gompers.
Control Of the mining industry has
to an effective degree been taken from
(Con.lnu.d on page sestnt.sn)