The Washington times., 1922-08-27

of Texas for the Democratic
nomination for Senator in the
"run-cff" primary.
several days, or probably until after
the bonus measure is disposed Of.
Senator Dial attacked the conduct
OF the Interstate Commerce Commits.
sion In issuing orders for priorities
and embargoes in the Transportation
OF coal and the Federal fuel commits
sion in making provision for coal
supplies.
II am unable to get any informa.
ton from Secretary Hoover or from
the Interstate Commerce Commission
or from anybody else as to where
they are getting their authority to
NEEDLE with the private affairs OF
the people," said Dial.
Charges Meddling.
My. constituents have contracts
for coal at a fixed price for twelve
months, and yet they can not get
1t unless they go to some one Of
these Government officials, who are
acting without any legal authority,
to get a priority order, and they can
not get that order unless they agree
to pay about twice the amount for
coal they have contracted for.
II protest against government Of.
ficials transgressing their authority.
We live under a constitutional form
Of government. The rights and
duties of the people, including Cab
met officers, are laid down by
statutes. We have come to the
point where they are violating the
law, and they are creating great
suspicion in the minds Of the con.
sumers OF coal as to why this is
done, I do not want TO cast any
reflection or suspicion upon any.
body. l know OF my own knowl.
edge, because I am the president
of a company which uses coal, that
the operators are willing 70 deliver
coal at an agreed price, but the
government agencies interfere, and
do not let them do II.
ut Is a sad day for the indus.
tries OF this country when the
people have to appeal to some
official to dole out the coal to
Would Jail MeddIer.
THE Senator has complained OF
interference with coal deliveries by
cabinet officer and suggests as
remedy that Congress adjourn" :"
interposed Senator Reed. Would
1t not be more in keeping II the
Congress stayed in session and
enacted a law to send to the peni.
tentiary any officer of the govern.
ment who proceeded to usurp any
authority that he does not possess?''
Dial replied that he would offer
an amendment to the Borah bill to
require the Government ito pay
whatever damage has been inflicted
upon the people by reason Of hav.
ing their coal deliveries interfered
with by meddling officials who have
no right to dictate as to who shall
or who shall not have coal and how
much shall be paid for that coal" &"
THE trouble OF which the Senator
speaks is not with Congress, but II
is with those acting without author.
ity," Senator Borah said.
Hear Spokesman Monday.
Although some opposition prevent
ed the Senate Interstate Commerce
Committee from acting on the Cum.
minis bill to enlarge the powers of
the Interstate Commerce Commission
in issuing orders for priorities in deal.
ing with the transportation OF coal
Chairman Cummins expressed the be-
lief that after spokesmen for the op-
orators and miners were heard brief
ly" Monday II would be reported IA.
vorably.
President Harding was represented
as strongly desiring the early en-
aotment of the bill, which would Gre
ate a national fuel distribution agen-
cy to aid the Interstate Commerce
Commission TO prevent the exac-
ton OF unreasonably high prices for
fuel"
There are, Of course, two sides to
every question:" said Senator Pom.
creme. Congress cannot be expect.
ed to pass hastily upon any legisla-
ton affecting the serious industrial
situation without having an oppor-
tunity to weigh carefully the full i'm
port and consequences of such legis-
lation."
The House did nothing regarding
the coal situation except to meet
long enough TO permit the introduc.
ton of q flood of bills embodying all
sorts of panaceas for meeting the
coal crisis.
Would Stop Lights.
In offering a resolution to re.
quest various Federal agencies to
revive restrictions on the use of
coal imposed during the light
less" and 'heatless'' days of the
war, Representative Brennan Rep.)
Of Michigan demanded the eiimi-
nation of electric signs, which ne
declared are hourly burning up
coal which may be needed next
winter to prevent people from
freezing to death"
The utmost energy and effort
on the part of operators, miners
and fuel officials during the next
few months cannot result In the
delivery Of coal which should have
been mined this summer but was
not" Brennan said. Nor will II
be physically possible for the rail.
roads TO handle in three months
the coal shipments which normally