The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-22
Insists Commission Be of Inn
partial Representatives.
Senate Bill Would Let Him Ap.
point Those He Saw Fit.
OUTLOOK ON COAL BRIGHTER
See a Production of 100000
Tons From Agreement.
Due to Loss of Crops Borah
Urges Quick Rail Peace.

Washington, Aug. 22.-While the
senate labor committee was taking the
first formal action toward creation OF
the coal fact finding commission rec
commended by President Harding, the
president let it be known today that
he was disposed to insist that the in
vestigation body be made up exclus
sively of impartial representatives OF
the public without special representa-
ton for either mine operators or EN-
ployes
bill for a commission on which
the president would be free to choose
representatives of the operators, min
ers or the public, as he saw fit, was
favorably reported by the senate com
mittee.
At the same time the house inter
state commerce committee, working
independently, refused to strike from
its tentative bill a provision which
would expressly prohibit membership
on the commission by any person hav-
ing any interest in or connection with
the cos4 Industry.
The hAuse committees bill also was
eavoFably reported after a number OF
changes were made from the form In
which 1t originally was drafted by
Chairman Winslow. As perfected 1t
provides for a commission of nine
members, while the measure drawn
by the senate committee specifies the
membership shall be five. In each bill
the commission is provided sweeping
powers of investigation.
Hurry Up Legislation.
Washington, Aug. 22.-The house
interstate commerce committee con-
tinued work today on the Winslow bill
proposing a federal commission to in
vestigate ali questions bearing on the
coal industry, as urged by President
Harding in his address to congress.
Republican members were hopeful the
measure would be ready for presents
ton by noon. There was a prospect
that it would be rushed thru under
suspension of the rules, and leaders
declared that in any event 1t would
be put thru before adjournment to-
morrow. The proposed commission of
nine members would be required TO
submit its first report not later than
January /, next.
At the same time Chairman Borah
had called a meeting of the senate
labor committee to take up the presi-
dents recommendation and hope to
get action on his own bill, which Mr..
Harding approved in it's major pro-
visions but which differs in some re-
spects from the Winslow measure.
Coal Production to Increase.
The outlook as to relief from the
coal shortage was somewhat bright
ened today by the forecast of the
central coal distributors committee
here placing production for the week
beginning yesterday at 5.600,n00 tons.
The total includes an estimated pro-
duction of 100000 tons resulting
from the Cleveland agreement.
In connection with the strike. the
Chamber of Commerce Of the United
States submitted to its membership
today. a compilation of statistics
on railroad accidents showing SO
employees and passengers killed or
| seriously injured in jolly, the first
| month of the shipments strike
as compared with a total of
21S in the preceding month and
125 in July last year. The figures.
based on reports to the interstate
commerce commission, showed that
| the first sixteen days in August, the
/ total of serious injuries reached 142.
altho more than half of these were
| said to have been caused by disastrous
accident.
The effect of the strike in losses
caused by inability to move crops, was
emphasized by Senator Borah yester-
/ day in urging a conference with b. NJ.
Jewell, leader of the strike men and
in a telegram to T. Dewitt Cuyler.
chairman of the association OF railway
executives. that both sides hasten a
solution of the cOnfrOvarsy