Evening star., 1922-08-18
Continued from First Page.)

stocks of coal. the crippled condi-
ton of the railways. the distressed
situation that has arisen and
might grow worse in our great
cities due to the shortage of an
thracite. the suffering which might
arise in the northwest through
failure to meet winter needs py
lake transportation, all these add
ed to the possibility of outrageous
price demands, in spite of the most
Jealous voluntary efforts of the
government to restrain theH'
make it necessary to ask you 10
consider at once some form OF
temporary control of Distribution
and prices.
The administration 'earnestl!
has sought to restrain prohteerihs
and to secure the rightful dis'ri-
button of such coal AS has been
available in this. emergency
There we're no legal powers for
price control. There has been cor
dial co-operation in many fields,
fine revelation of business coh-
science stronger than the tempta-
ton to profit By a peoples mis-
fortune. There have been IN
stances of fiat refusal. l rejoice
to make grateful acknowledgment
TO those who preferred TO CON
tribute to national welfare rather
than profit by a nations distress.
Federal Sales Urged.
If it may have your approval
recommend immediate provision
for a temporary national coal
agency, with needed capital 10
purchase, sell and distribute coal
which is carried in interstate
shipment. l do not mean that al
Interstate coal shall be handled
nv such a federal Organization
perhaps none will be necessary
but it will restore it's capital 10
the public treasury and Will De tne
instrumeutality of guarding the
nublic interest where private coh-
,c;snce is insensible to a pubic
need.
This proposal does not relate TO
any possible employment In lntra-
state shipments. Price restraint
and equitable distribution IN intra-
,tate shipments is a responsibility
of the states own government. III
such voluntary activities as nave
been carried on thus far the fed-
eral government has endeavored
m re-establish the authority anu
responsibility in the states whlch
were undermined in the necessary
Capitalization of authority curing
the world war. ~. 200,
The public menace in the coal
situation was made more acute
and more serious at the pesihhihs
Of July by the strike OF the req
Grated Shop Crafts in the rallroao
service-a strike against a wage
decision made by the hailroao
Labor BOARD, directly affecting ap-
nroximately 100000 men. the
iustice of the decision is not Tor
discussion here. The decision mas
hsen lost sight of in subsequent
was always possible to appeal TOT
rehearing and the submission OF
new evidence, and it Is always
s.fe assumption that a govern
ment agency of adjustment declo-
,ne uniustly will be quick to make
right any wrong.
Wage Adjusting Necessary.
The Railroad Labor Board was
created by Congress for the ex-
n,ess purpose of hearing and de-
ciding disputes between the car
r;ers and their employees, SO that
va controversy need lead to an In
terruption in interstate transpor-
tation.
II was inevitable that many
wage disputes should arise. wages
had mounted upward. necessarily
and Justly, during the war up
heaval. likewise the cost OF Trans
nortation, so that the hisher
wapes might be paid. 1t was inev-
table that some readjustments
should follow. Naturally these re-
.diustments were resisted. The
administrative government neither
advocated nor opposed. IL only
hold that the Labor Board was the
lawful agency of the government
to hear and decide disputes. and
,+s authority must be sustained. as
the law contemplates. This must
CARRIERS the
employees ignore it's decisions.
unhappily a number of decisions
o6 This board had been ignored by
,he carriers. In only one instance,
however. had decision 'challeng-
ed by a carrier been brought to
the attention of the Department OF
Justice, and this decision was
promptly carried to the courts and
has recently been sustained in
the federal court Of appeals. The
nublic or the executive had, no
knowledge of the ignored decisions
in other cases. because they did
not hinder transportation. When
these failures Of many of the car
riers to abide by decisions OF the
hoard were brought to rny atten-
tion I could more fairly appraise
the feelings of the strikers, though
thew had a. remedy without seeking
70 paralyze interstate commerce.
Labor board Law Inadequate.
The law creating the Railroad La
bor Board is inadequate. Contrary
To popular impression, it has little
or no power to enforce its deci-
sions. 1t can impose no penalties
on either party disregarding its
decisions. 1t cannot halt strike.
and manifestly Congress deliber-
ately omitted the enactment of