Evening star., 1922-07-23
Proposes Measures to Prevent
Strikes in Essential Industries

be done within constitutional limita-
tions.
Within the limits of this commune
cation the details and legal questions
cannot, of course. be discussed. but
only an outline of the remedies pre-
sented.
Industries Of Public Interest.
To prevent strikes in industries af-
fected with a national public interest
Congress should create a commission
or board the personnel Of which
should be appointed by the President,
by and with the advice and consent
of tho Senate, without regard to their
party affiliations or political beliefs.
They should be paid liberal salaries
and hold their positions for life, or
during good behavior: or. in other
words, this board or commission
should. in the way Of personnel. pay
and dignity, be on a parity with the
Supreme Court Of the nation. SO as
TO inspire the respect and confidence
Of the public, and particularly Of
la Dor and capital This body should
be empowered to formulate and en-
force its own rules and regulations
governing practice and procedure be-
fore it. 1t should be clothed with
every power requisite and necessary
not only to bring tho disputing par
ties before it to hear and determine
the questions at issue, but also to en-
force upon the parties compliance
with its findings and decree upon the
tion Of its own motion over every dis
pute likely to lead to strike be-
tween employers and employees in
every industry in the country which
by reason of Its nature Is affected
with a national public interest. I am
that such a law, limiting the jurisdic-
tion of tho board as Indicated. Is
within the constitutional power OF the
Congress to enact.
Coal Mines and MfninS.
Not unnaturally. under all the cir
cumstances, the nation made q great
mistake in the beginning in not re-
serving to itself all the mineral re-
sources in the public lands. Having
failed to do this, We now ind a basic
necessity Of the people. in peace and
in war-the coal supply-pre-empte
by handful of individuals. who regu-
late the output in such a way that
the cost Of coal to the consumers is
about four times what 1t should be.
and in effect amounts to the imposi-
tion by them of millions of dollars of
taxes upon tho people, who have no
voice whatever. in the matter. The
historians tell US we fought the war
of the revolution because of taxation
without representation. This tax
alton Of that time was infinitestimal
in comparison to that levied upon us
I by tho "coal barons." and 1t did go
for tho general support Of the gov
ernment. whereas the taxes these
| worthless impose upon US arbitrarily
go into their own pockets.
| Coal Is indispensable to the peoples
comfort and to their material welfare
and all their Industrial activities. 1t
cooks the nations food; 1t warns the
people in winter; the railroads and
the steamships cannot operate with
out; and without 1t the mills and fac
tories shut down and millions are
thrown out of employment The coal
supply Of this country Is practically
linexhaustible. and yet there is never
any diminution In the cost of 1t to
the people. The coal strikes, because
Of the. mismanagement, Of these prop,
critics and the insatiate greed OF the