Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-08-30
Reaction In Both House and Senate Against Emergency
Legislation Is Pronounced Doubt Whether
1t Could Be Passed
NO SEIZURE LEGISLATION POSSIBLE NOW
Republican Leaders Are Relieved By Soaring That The
President Does Not Intend Officially to Request
Legislation Now

marty in congress should he insist
upon enactment Of such legislation.
Senator Pomerene raised the ques-
+ion of constitutionality of seizure
legislation at the present time.
Senator Frelinghuysen, on the
other hand, said he was ready to
seize the mines and squeeze out tne
coal, if necessary. | am willing TO
back the president to the limit. SEN
ator Calder expressed a similar vlew'
Among those who favored watch
full waiting policy were senator's
Curtis, LaFollette, Underwood, Raw
son and Lenroot.
Representative Johnson. ). d., IN
tends to force 2 test of seizure senti-
ment in the House today BY offer
ing an amendment to the pending
Winslow bill, empowering the presl-
dent to take over rails and mines.
This may be rules out of order as
not germane to the BILL
Representative Mondell, Wyoming,
republican leader in the House: de-
clared emphatically against seizure
legislation at this time.
an my opinion he said, congress
is not likely to take any action look
inc toward taking over the railroads
or mines in time of peace except IN
the immediate face and presence OF
an emergency so imminent and press
ing that such action would constitute
the only way out. | do not antlcl-
pate such an emergency"
Democratic leader Garrett, Tenn,
said he did not believe seizure act
could be jammed through the House
, i'm any event.
The Senate was widely divided over
the question of seizure of the mlNes.
While a few administration spokes-
men were willing to back President
Harding to the limit in authorizing
I legislation to operate mines, the gen.
eral concensus was violently opposed
! to any such drastic action, at least
' until all peace overtures IN hard
local fields failed.
Little sunDort is given the Edge
or Walsh seizure bills, which give
almost unlimited powers to the presi-
dent. A less drastic proposal OF Sen
ator Cummins, giving the govern
ment power to control the output OF
| coal. and in such quantities as the
country Ittutu Hio ldfOiNN'
Democrats, in general, opposed seiz-
ure.
Washington, Aug. 3O.-Congress
will be asked to provide a large ad-
ditional appropriation to increase the
number of federal agents inspecting
rail equipment during the shopmens
strike.
A measure to this effect probably
will be introduced today by Senator
King, Utah, as the result of the In
terstate Commerce Commission re-
port that approximately GO per cent
Of 4,0S5 locomotives inspected at TT
points were found defective, and that
! deductions as to the general condi-
, ton of all the 10000 engines could be
drawn from this finding.
The commission now is vainly en-
deavoring to inspect the 10000 loco
motives with 80 inspectors, or one
man for every 400 engines.
King will demand rigid enforce
ment of the inspection laws, which
the commission are not being strictly
| obeyed by the railroads. He warned
that if these laws are not enforced
! the strike will spread to the Big -Four
! Brotherhoods who will refuse to
operate the defective equipment.