Evening star., 1922-08-23
NEW BILL UPSETS
COAL PROBE PLAN
House Committee, However,
Reverses Action and Reports
WinsIoW Measure.
GIVES FACTIONS PLACE
Vote to Reconsider Failing, Admin
istration Leaders Call Hur-
ried Conference.
GIVES FACTIONS PLACE

After first voting to give preference
to the Bland coal investigation BILL
providing for an investigation COM
mission on which miners and opera
tors would be represented, the House
rules committee reversed Itself TO-
day and reported out the Winslo"
administration bill for a commits
sion composed entirely of impartial
representatives of the public.
BY this action the question as TO
what representation should be pro-
hibited, as insisted upon by President
Harding, was put sQuarely before the
House.
The committee also brought out an
open rule, however, which would per-
nit amendment OF the Winslow meas
ure to provide for representation OF
miners and operators. The first ac-
ton upset the plans, of House repub-
lican leaders and, failing in a le
vote to secure reconsideration OF the
committee decision. they went into a
hurried conference to draft a ne"
plan of campaign.
Miners Protest Plays Part.
1t had been for the purpose of Civ
ing precedence to the Winslow bill.
and drawing up a special rule to
permit its consideration in the House
at today's session. that the rules
committee was called together. The
unexpected result. in the race OF
President Harding's desire for nom
representation of the operators and
miners, was said to have been credit
ed in part to a protest from united
Mine Workers officials against crea-
tion of a commission from which
those directly connected with the in
4 ho ho
Representative Mondell, the re-
publican leader, withdrew request
to dispense with routine on the cal
endar Wednesday.
The motion to substitute the Bland
bill for the Winslow measure was
made by Representative Johnson, re-
publican. South Dakota.
Meantime. in the Senate, plans TO
take up Senator Borah's coal COM
mission bill miscarried and 1t went
over until tomorrow. when Mr.. Borah
said he expected its passage with
little discussion. Delay in printing
the bill prompted him to defer action.
President Shows Opposition.
President Harding was said at the
White House yesterday to be op-
posed to any but a non-partisan COM
mission. In a telegram to Represen-
tative Bland yesterday Mt. Lewis
declared that If the federal govern
ment. in making an Independent in
uuiry, proposed to disregard the
rights and privileges of miners and
operators. after the Cleveland confer
ence agreement providing for COM
mission with equal representation. the
responsibility will lie with those
who recommend such action"
Meanwhile. as to the rail strike
situation. the government remained
in the role of observer. today as the
railway executives assembled for
their conference in New York in con-
nection with the strike settlement
negotiations there. While hopeful OF
success for the negotiations, Presi-
White House as unready to take
any further steps in the situation
than those stated in his recent ad-
dress to Congress.
Mines Speeding Up.
With approximately 125.0O0,000 tons
of annual coal production signed up
yesterday in the bituminous fields
of Illinois. Indiana and the far west
and southwest, Labor Department
offlcials were looking forward today
to speedy resumption of maximum
operation In practically every class
of mine in the country.
That the original estimate of 9,00O.-
000-ton production estimated to be-
gin by the first of the week might
be exceeded was shown by figures
made public by the federal fuel dis
tribution committee, which showed
that $4,000 cars were loaded Monday.
an approximate tonnage of 1,045,000
for that day. On Monday mines in
the Pittsburgh region. which have
since resumed production. were not
in operation. These mines will bring
in a weekly production of about two
million tons, 1t was estimated.
Eighty-five million tons in Illinois,
the total production of the states,
were represented in the tonnage
signed up yesterday. while 20.000.000
tons were represented in the tonnage
signed in Indiana, bringing produc-
ton Ia both states up to the max
imum.
While Developments in the anthra-
cite conference being held in Phila-
delphia apparently were at stand
still, Secretary Davis was in touch by
telephone today with 8. D. Warriner,
representing the anthracite opera
tors, and John L. Lewis, president of
the United Mine Workers. The Labor
Department was represented as hope
full that settlement of the anthracite
strike would be negotiated before the
end of the week, and that production
in Pennsylvania would begin not later
than next Monday. While the nego-
tiations are in progress. colliery man
ayers in the hard coal districts are
cleaning up the mines and making all
arrangements fo~ immediate resump-
ton of production.