The Holbrook news., 1922-09-08
TO FIX A WAGE SCALE
WOULD ADJUST WAGES FIRST, THEN ASK MEN TO RETURN.
HARD COAL SHAFTS AND SOME RAILROADS MAY BE
 TAKEN OVER.

| anthracite coal mines and some of the railroads has been considered at 6 White House conference between President Harding and Chairman Cummins of the Senate Interstate Commerce committee, and Attorney General Daugherty.
 Senator Cummins said after the con- ference that the anthracite operators and miners would be given one more opportunity to settle their differences.
 If there isn't a settlement soon," he said, q will introduce bill authoriz- ing the government to operate the mines."
 Likewise, he said, the railroads would be given reasonable time In which to demonstrate their ability to furnish adequate service, and that those unable to do so would be taken over.
 Senator Cummins expressed confi- dence that legislation for both pur- poses could be rushed through Con- gress without delay. It was indicated that consideration of these steps would not operate to interfere with proposed legislation now pending and designed to curb profiteering in coal.
 The White House conference fol- lowed a survey of the whole situation at the regular cabinet meeting and the termination, without result, of the conference at New York between rail- road executives and union officials.
 Before the conference the ground work had been lRid through admins traitor overtures fora further meeting between the parties to the anthracite dispute, to be held at some point in Pennsylvania. It was indicated that certain proposals would be made which 1t was hoped would bring about an ad- justment of the difficulty which dis rupted the sessions at Philadelphia.
 While no detailed. explanation was given as to how the government would operate anthracite, mines in the event of their seizure, 1t was indicated that the first step would be to fix a wage scale and then request or direct the miners to return to work. Coal mined. it was stated, would be market ed through the regular commercial channels, the government taking steps to prevent possible profiteering.
 The bituminous situation did not en- ter into the discussion, the cOnferees, agreeing that this industry gradually was getting back to normal. The abil- ity of the roads to move coal from the mines, in the view of officials, consti. tutes an important element in this connection, however, and may prove determining factor as to the necessity for federal operation of carriers.
 While further. developments in both the coal and rail situations are await ed, measures designed to minimize profiteering in both bituminOus and anthracite will be pressed in Congress. Differences of opinion have developed between the executive and legislative, branches as to how far the govern ment should go in It's effort to protect coal consumers from profiteers.
 Executive officers handling the sit uation have requested legislation granting authority to curb profiteers, not only through control of the mining of coal in interstate commerce, but al- So through the purchase and sale of this fuel.
 Congressional leaders having charge of such legislation are loath to have the government enter the coal market, however, and no such authority is pro- posed in the bill introduced by Senator Cummins.