The New York herald., 1922-08-05
COAL COMMISSION
TO HAVE WIDE SCOPE
VIII Be Empowered to Get to
Bottom of Whole Trouble
in Industry.
APPOINTMENT Is NEAR
New Priority Orders Issued
Senator Spencer Urges U. s.
Labor Court.
Special Dispatch to THE New York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Nvashfnvfau u O.. Aur

New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. c., Aug. 4.
With coal production in the United
States still tagging far behind the ma
tional needs, President Harding will
take another decisive step in the coal
strike early next week. 1t is expected
he win name coal commission 90 de-
termine the justice of all the points In
dispute between mine operators and
mine workers.
The commission will be instructed 10
go ahead with its work with the full
support of the Government whether
either or both sides to tho controversy
refuse to appear or to be party to the
inquiry and whatever findings are
reached.
Practically the entire time of the
Cabinet was given TO discussion of the
industrial situation as relating primarily
to the coal and railroad strikes. After
the Cabinet meeting the President spent
some time in conference with Senator
Borah. author OF bill for creation of
permanent coal commission to be
clothed with full powers OF inquiry.
Tt Is understood that Senator Borah
outlined in detail his hopes for the
legislation and its accomplishments, but
that agreement was reached that the
measure would notsbe pressed in the
present situation. This. in effect. leaves
the President a free hand to meet the
situation as he deems best.
New Priority Orders. nj"
To meet the increasing shortage in tiie
household coal supply the Interstate
Commerce Commission to-day issued an
order modifying it's priority order of
July rs to place in Glass ?, near the
head OF tn epriority list, all lump btu
minous coal destined for sale by retail
dealers to householders. >,.
The order also placed on the priority
list for coal all manufacturers of glass
bottles and jars for use as containers
| for food or for medicine. g- .,-.
Complaint was registered by Gamers
and producers of glass and other con-
tainers in Kentucky and Tennessee TO
the effect that the Louisville and Nash
vile Railroad refused to supply them
with coal. The Kentucky State Utilities
Commission ordered them supplied. but
was ignored by the railroad and. and
appeal was made to the Federal body
The commission announced the. names
of score of district agents who will
have jurisdiction in allotment and dis
tiibution Of coal.
Coal transportation on the Virginia,
Kentucky and Tennessee railroads Is
steadily improving.
Senator Spencer (Mo), introduced a
resolution in the Senate to-day provid-
| ing for establishment of a Federal
court of conciliation to mediate or ar
| bitrate all Industrial disputes. 1t Is
| provided that the court shall sit where
| ever necessary ad that its personnel
| meet all of the requirements for district
| judges. M .-
Tribunal Held Need.
In explanation of the proposal. Sena-
! tor Spencer said:
"The people of the United States un-
der existing laws are able to determine
| judicially every dispute affecting life.
| liberty and property as between States
and individuals. but they are abso-
| lutely powerless to settle labor disputes
that may. and often do, directly affect
| the health and lives OF the people and
| the industrial life OF the nation. This
impotency Is intolerable Every effort
| should be made to settle by Cancellation
| or by conference or voluntary arbitra-
| ton differences in the field of labor.
| "The rights of employees are the
rights of sovereign American citizens.
| The whole country is Interested in the
| living condition and wage or every
! American No man or woman can or
| should be compelled to work except
under such conditions and for such
wages as are satisfactory to him and
no man or woman who is able or willing
to work under conditions satisfactory
| to him shall be prevented from so doing.
! i"But when industrial disputes reach
a point where every voluntary effort to
settle the difficulty has proved unavail-
ing and the extent and character OF the
controversy Is such as to- endanger the
4 general welfare of the country there
| should be and there must be some i'm
| partial government agency to promptly
and finally determine such disputes. The
proposed legislation is in line with this
purpose. IL will doubtless be much inn
proved as It receives additional consid-
| eratiOn"