The Washington times., 1922-08-28
COAL PRIORITY
DECIDED ON BY
STRIKE BOARD
Harding and Advisers Discuss
Industrial Situation Over
Weekend Voyage.
BY GEORGE r. HOLMES,
International News Service.

coal, but move coal"
Virtually this message went out
to the railroads of the country today
as q result OF President Haroing's s
conferences with his "strike Cabi.
net" over the weekend on the Presi-
Dental yacht Mayflower. which re-
turned to the Capital this morning.
Practically the entire trip was de-
voted to discussion of the critical
industrial situation between Presi.
dent Harding and his guests, among
whom were Attorney General
Daugherty, Secretary Of Commerce
Hoover, Secretary Of the Interior
Fall, Senator Cummins Of Iowa,
Senator Kellogg Of Minnesota and
Chairman A. d. Lasker Of the Ship
ping Board, according to those
aboard.
AS a result of the conferences, 1t
was said, the Government this week
will devote all its energies to the
prompt movement of coal supplies to
prevent shutting down Of Industries.
Food First, Then Coal.
Steps will be taken through the
Interstate Commerce Commission,
operating its priority system. to give
coal priority over all other commodi-
ties except essential foodstuffs.
The decision to push distribution
OF coal at all costs may result in
some temporary curtailment of mail
and passenger traffic, II was said.
But regardless of this, the President
and his advisers agreed movement
of coal Is the most pressing need Of
the country this week.
1t developed aboard the May
flower that President Harding ard
his advisers believe the Government
can expedite coal shipments without
the need of emergency legislation at
present. The Interstate Commerce
Commission, under the emergency
powers already existing, can so direct
rolling stock as to give fuel priority,
and while an extension Of the Com.
missions powers would he desirable,
1t is not vitality essential, II was
stated officially today.
The opinion was generally shared
by the President and his advisers
that the coal production situation is
improving daily. Bituminous pro
duction, so vital to industry, Is stead.
lily increasing and will be nearly
normal before the week Is out.
Expect End Of Strike.
In the anthracite field. the view
was taken, the five months strike
| will be settled this week. Private
information at the disposal Of the
President and his Cabinet advisers
are said to indicate this almost to
the point of certainty.
Thus the whole problem facing the
Government, II was agreed, is one of
distribution Of coal by the railroads
that have been crippled to an alarm
ing extent by the strike Of railway
shopmen.
Senator Cummins. chairman Of the
Interstate Commerce Committee OF
the Senate, may or may not intro
duce this week a bill, already pre-
pared, granting the President broad
powers to "seiZe" the railroads and
anthracite mines in the name OF
grave public emergency. 1t was
stated.
fit is introduced. 1t was said. r
will be with the understanding that
Il is not to be acted upon at once
that it will constitute merely a meas.
ure Of preparedness" or Insurance
against a complete breakdown OF
transportation when Congress might
| OF IlOl bC III oCooich w ASSPNe~S-
quickly to a national emergency.
Henry Ford's announcement that
he will close down his factories on
September 16, throwing thousands OF
men out of work, rather than submit
to "gouging" for coal and necessary
ma terials, startled the Capital. 1t
emphasized in q positive way condi.
tions which have been complained OF
| in hundreds OF kilograms and letters
sent to members OF Congress from
ali parts Of the country.
Rail Strike May Spread.
Spread of the shopmen's strike.
either by authorized strike or "sus-
pension Of work" in other classes OF
railroad labor, was freely predicted
today in responsible labor quarters.
Labor chiefs asserted that their
orders to their men-permitting
"suspension OF work" whenever
conditions are held to be prejuricial
to life or comfort-still stand. and
while no sympethatic strikes will
be tolerated, the union leaders will
not attempt to compel men to work
under adverse conditions. 1t was
marked significantly that the tie
up at Roodhouse, ILL.,, on the Chi.
cago & Alton. came within as
hours after the breakup Of peace
conferences in New York.
"Railroad executives have decreed
that this is to be a finish fight"
said William H. johnson, president
| of the International Association Of
Machinists, the largest single shop.
craft on strike. I'VE did not ask
for II, we made every effort to
avert Il, but they have decreed IL
and we have no other recourse than
TO accept their challenge. This
strike will be more effective three
weeks from today than It Is now"
Extreme importance was attached
today to the wage hearing up be-
fore the Railroad Labor Board to-
day, affecting some 100000 main.
tainence Of way employees.
MOSCOW THEATER TROUPE