Evening star., 1922-08-30
PRESIDENT STUDIES
SHIPMENTS OF: COAL
Awaits Distribution Results
Before Insisting Upon Ac-
ton by Congress.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

President Harding has unbosomed
himself in the last twenty four hours
to his cabinet and other callers on
the plans he has in mind for dealing
with the national emergency grow
ing out of the rail and coaf strikes.
The President revealed first of all
that while he has no fixed policy and
is depending more or less on day-to-
day developments, his duty. and re-
sponsibility in certain eventualities
is clear in his mind.
The whole situation, Mr.. Harding
thinks, depends on transportation.
Enough hard coal will be available,
because the President feels sure, the
in a few days. Statistics laid on the
cabinet table showed that the soft
coal tonnage is satisfactory. and that
no shortage will develop II the coal
now being mined can be distributed
from the mouth of the mine to the
consumer. The shopmen's strike is
interfering with transportation.
President's Advisers Split.
Mr.. Harding has been in the midst
of debate between two sets of ad-
visers, those who favor and those who
oppose government operation of any
thing. Enough arguments have been
advanced by both sides to make Mr..
Harding aware of the terrific respon-
sibilities which would be involved.
Furthermore. outside the cabinet,
there has been a pressure of two
groups, one of which insists that to
take over mines or railroads would
be playing into the hands of the
unions, as they are said to want gov
ernment operation because it means
clares that the unions do not want
government operation because the
governments method will be virtually
to uphold the employers by giving
federal protection.
At first glance the latter view might
not seem clear, but what Mr.. Harding
knows Is that II he has to take over
the roads be will have to depend upon
the present railroad executives to
run them. and that the men will be
working for the same individuals as
they now oppose, only under govern
ment operation the railroad execu-
tives would have federal troops. fed
eral court authority and every agency
of the government at their beck and
call.
The President. therefore, after lis
tening to the pro and con OF gov
ernment seizure of mines and roads is
into any such venture. To use the
word "hesitant' is to put it mildly.
He is hoping against hope that he
will not have to do 1t. Meanwhile,
however, Congress Is restlessly Itch
ing for vacation. while the confer
n
tariff bill Political advisers. like
Senator James Watson of Indiana and
John T. Adams, chairman of the re-
publican national committee. have dis
cussed with the President the whole
question of political consequences
Seeks Blanket Authority.
So Mr.. Harding came to this con-
clusion: He feels he ought to have
blanket authority to take over GER
tain coal-carrying railroads and such
mines as will be necessary to insure
a sufficient production of fuel for the
nation. He promises not to use the
authority except in dire emergency
and believes Congress ought to trust
to him to use the right sort of judg-
ment as to the existence or nom
existence of an emergency.
But Congress never has given
blanket authority except in time of
war. and lskely there has been a ten
dencey to guard jealously the powers
Of Conerese, something which Mr..
Ha riding himself has encouraged. Mr..
HardinR realizes that Congress might
not want to give him this blanket
bower, SO he hesitates to ask for II
because II he asks and Congress does
not grant 1t, the effect would be to
hurt republican members Of Congress,
unon whose head the political re-
sponsibility for lack of fuel might be
thrust.
those who discussed the matter with
him that for the moment he will not
NJ for the power in any formal way.
Conerese knows Informally through
those who have been at the White
TIouse that he wants 1t. If Congress
secs Mt to grant 1t, Mr.. Harding will
be aratified, but he will .aot Insist
for the present and he acknowledges
that political considerations may In
terfere with the attitude Of Congress
in acting on the subject unless the
emergency grows more acute than
1t 10.
The policy then is 10 see whether
the railroads can operate efiiciehtly
enough to carry COAL II they can't,
Mr. Harding will make the next move
and will call Congress back II 1t hap
pens to be In recess.