The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-08-26
GOVERNMENT
TO OPERATE
MINES, ROADS
Administration Prepares To
Bring Anthracite and Rail
Strike Situations to Early
elimination.
WATSON SEES HARDING
(Rv Associated Pressl

WASHINGTON, Aug. 26.-The fed
eral administration was preparing to
bring the anthracite coal and rail sit
uations to an early elimination today,
with federal operation of the anthra-
cite mines and some of the railroads
Necessary to protect the public well
fare.
Congressional leaders at the same
time were preparing to hasten enact
ment of pending legislation designed
10 curb profiteering in coal prices ana
providing for fact-fnding inquiry IN
10 the entire coal industry.
President Harding was furnished
today with a report on the recent
New York negotiations for settlement
Of the rail strike.
Senator Watson, Republican, Ind,
who has been one of the foremost adj
visers of the executives in the rail
situation, called at the White House
after talking on the long distance
phone with T. Dewitt Cuyler, chair
man of the Association of Rail Ex-
ecutives, and Charles Donnelly, presl-
dent of the Northern Pacific railway.
The Indiana senator was accompa-
MED by John T. Adams, chairman OF
the Republican national committee,
and their visit was substituted Tor an
appointment of Alfred 2. Thomas, gen.
eraI counsel for the executives OF the
association.
Neither Mr. Watson nor Mr.. Adams,
prior to their conference, would com
ment on the proposal being considered
by the president looking toward re-
quest for congressional authority to
take over some railroads and anthra'
cite mines unless there is an improve
ment in those industries in reason
able time.
Executives Interested
Mr.. Watson indicated, however, thai
rail executives had manifested consld
cradle interest in what the admlnlstra
ton purposed to do with the seniority
question in event is was deemed neces
sary to resume operations of certain
railroad properties.
Further developments in both tbs
coal and rail situations were awaited
bv the administration before pro
ceeding further in its policy OF tedera
operation as discussed at conference
last night between President HardlnE
Chairman Cummins of the Senate In
terstate Commerce COMMITTEE and A
torney General Daugherty.
Senator Cummins declared after tn
conference that the anthracite opera
tors and miners would be given on
more opportunity to settle their oil
ferences before he would lntroduc
a bill authorizing Federal operation O
the mines and that of the railroads
likewise. would be given REASONABLE
time to demonstrate their ablity I
furnish adequate service and ina
those that failed would be taken oVe'
He is confident that congress woul
speedily enact legislation for both pul
poses.
Think Meeting Assured
Administration overtures in the al
thracite situation were believed toda
to have assured another meeting pf
.vesu the two parties to the disput
next week and hope that tlnal az
iustmeut would be reached then wa
based on certain proposals which
was indicated would be presented
the prospective conference.
The question of bituminous produ
tion now gradually getting back to no
NAL. entered into the conference di
cussion only from the standpoint {
trcr<portation and it was the view {
officials that the ability of the road
to move coal may prove the determil
ing factor as to the necessity for te
crai operation of carriers.
The sharp increase in bituminoJ
production will make unnecessary
continuance of the super-priority sy
ten of distribution which has operate
nnder the volunteer federal fuel di
tribution organization, it is believe
by it's officials. who indicated that ii
organization probably would go OF
OF existence next week. A skeletC
organization, however, would be 7
~ tanned to provide a nucleus for ar
deliberation agency which congre!
may create.