Evening star., 1922-08-26
Interstate Commerce Com
mittee Action Causes Whole
Subject to Go Over.
MAY GRANT HEARINGS TO
OWNERS AND MINERS
Administration May Operate An
thracite Mines and Railroads if
Necessary to Guard Public.

Action on the administration bill
designed to prevent protiteering in
coal through extension of the powers
If The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion and creation of a federal fuel
distribution agency was blocked to-
day in the Senate Interstate Com
merce committee. and the whole SUB
ject went over TO Monday
chairman Cummins of the commit
tee who introduced the measure. de-
clined to discuss the situation in the
committee but Senator Pomerene.
democrat. Ohio. declared several
members were insistent on having
hearings and that he was conndent
both mine owners and workers WouIo
he given an opportunity to express
their views on the proposal peIore
there was final action.
May Seize Properties.
The federal administration mean
while was preparing to bring the
anthracite coal and rail strike sltua-
lions TO an early elimination today
with federal operation of the anthra-
cite mines and some of the railroads
under consideration should that be-
come necessary to protect the puollc
welfare. Another White House con-
ference to consider this course was In
prospect today while congressional
leaders at the same time were pre-
pared to hasten enactment OF penang
legislation designed to curb pronteer-
ing in coal prices and providing Tor
a fact-finding inquiry into the entlre
coal industry.
Further developments in both the
coal and rail situations were awaited
by the administration before proceed
ing further in its policy Of federal
operation as discussed at conference
Il a nv6f o.
Chairman Cummins of the Senate In
terstate commerce committee and At
1orney General Daugherty.
One More Opportunity.
Senator Cummins declared after the
conference that the anthracite op-
orators and miners would be given
one more opportunity to settle their
differences before he would Introduce
p bill authorizing federal operation OF
the mines. and that the railroads,
likewise, would be given a reason
able" time to demonstrate their ability
10 furnish adequate service and that
those that failed would be taken over.
He was confident that Congress would
speedily enact legislation for both
purposes.
administration overtures in the an
1hracite situation were believed to-
day to have assured another meeting
between the two parties to the dis
pute next week, and hope that a final
adjustment would be reached then
was based on certain proposals which
ii was indicated would be presented
to the prospective conference.
Now Up to Railroads.
The question of bituminous produc-
ton, now gradually getting back to
normal. entered into the conference e
discussion only from the standpoint
of transportation, and it was the view
of officials that the ability of the
roads to move coal may prove the de-
1ermining factor as to the necessity
for federal operation of carriers.
The sharp increase in bituminous
production will make unnecessary a
continuance of the superpriority sys-
tenn of distribution which has operat-
ed under the volunteer federal fuel
distribution organization, 1t is believ-
ed by it's officials, who indicated that
1he organization probably would go
out of existence next week. A skele-
ton organization, however. would be
retained to provide a nucleus for any
distribution agency which Congress
may create.