The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-28
Committees Down to Work ON
Coal Distribution Plan.
President Is Back After q
Cruise Down the Potomac.
HOPES FOR INDUSTRIAL PEACE
Rail and Coal Authority To Be
Precautionary Measure.
Give Coal and Food Priority
Over Other Shipments.
CBy The Associated Press.I


Washington. Aug. 2S.-while com.
mittees of the senate and house were
at work today on coal distribution
legislation, President Harding and his
advisers prepared to bring to bear all
their powers for Improvement of fuel
transportation facilities.
1t was indicated the president still
believed 1t would be possible to re-
store normal conditions without Q re-
sort to government operation At the
same time, both the senate and house
interstate commerce committees were
redoubling their efforts to complete
the distribution and priority bills and
steps to authorize the executive to
take over roads and mines remained
In the offing.
Just what executive steps are In
contemplation to facilitate coal ship
ments was not revealed but it was in
dicated that both the interstate COM
merce commission and the emergency
fuel distribution machine already set
up would be relied on to provide ef-
fective measure to protect the inter-
ests of the public.
May Curtail Their Shipments.
There were intimations that in or
der to get the maximum results, Il
curtailment of passengers. express and
freight traffic in all commodities ex-
cept fuel and the foodstuffs was
among the possibilities.
With little discussion and no record
vote the senate committee voted a ia
vorable report today on the Cummius
bill to create a coal distribution
agency and to extend the authority OF
the interstate commerce con1mission
over priority of shipments, and it was
indicated that the measure would
probably be taken up in the senate 1T
self, later in the week.
At the same time the house COM
| mittee began a hearing on a compan-
! ion bill presented by Winslow
Hard Coal Dispute May Be Settled.
I There was noticeable Increased op-
timisIn at the White House over the
anthracite question, officials close to
the president indicating they expect
ed some agreement within forty eight
hours.
A new high water mark for coal
| loadings since the strike began was
announced by the Association of Rail-
way Executives whose figures for last
| Friday. the latest available, showed
that on that day 21,se6 cars wero
/ loaded. On the basis of figures al
| ready received the association an
nounced that loadings for the whole
| of last week probably exceeded
6.250,0 tons.
Back From Weekend Cruise.
Washington, Aug. 2s.-President
Harding and the party of officials
who accompanied him on a weekend
cruise down the Potomac returned to
/ the capital early today. the presiden-
Ilal yacnt May1lOWer docking at the
navy yard shortly before o'clocK
The president went direct to the
White House.
President HardinS's return from his
weekend cruise. during which he -
understood to have advised with Off
! cials who accompanied him on the
strike situation, was expected in some
quarters to be followed by a definite
announcement of the administration
policy with respect to the proposal
that congress authorize the executive
to take over and operate rail and coal
properties. The exact scope of the
governments policy will ne revealed
in any event within the next few days
Still Hopes For Peace.
Before leaving on cruise, the presi-
dent who was accompanied by Secre-
tary Hoover. Attorney General Dough-
erty and Chairman Cummins, of the
senate interstat- commerce commit
tee, was eprese.-ted by those in his
confidence as still believing that in
dustrial peace would be restored with
out resort to government operation.
but is inclined to feel that authority
fo- such coT-se should be granted
as a precautionary measure before
congress took it's contemplated recess.