Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-08-25
DRASTIC STEPS
(Continued from Pare One)

A suggestion by Chairman Borah
OF the Senate Labor committee. that
the authorities of other states would
! of New York in dealing with their
local coal situations.
A declaration by Chairman Cum
minis fthe Senate Interstate Com
merce committee that Congress. at
its next session would take up in
dustrlal problems with view to de-
termining what place unionism
the United States"
A resolution empowering the
President to take over and operate
the mines was introduced by Senator
Walsh, Democrat, Massa chusetts. af-
ter long and heated Senate debate,
an was referred to the Interstate
Commerce committee. To this same
ton bill offered by Senator Cummins
proposing to create a federal coal
distribution agency, which working
through the Interstate Commerce
Commission, would control not only
distribution Of, but lprofiteering in
coal. Chairman Cummins called a
meeting Of his committee for Sat
ur9ay to consider the administration
measure.
The Senate is expected to act first
on the Borah substitute for the
Winslow bill. which Senator Borah
plans TO call up tomorrow. 1t pro-
poses commission of five members
to investigate the whole coal indus
try and make recommends tons TO
Congress-
Senate discussion. the first extended
debate on either the coal or rail
strikes. brought expressions from
practically all senators participating,
that in their judgment there was
bound to be actual hardships and suf-
fering from lack of coal his winter.
even should the strikes be settled to-
morrow.
Senator Calder. Republican. New
York, urged that operators and miners
be given 49 hours in which to adjust
their differences and that II they
failed cit will lie the duty of this Con-
gress TO give the president full and
complete authority TO take over the
mines and to operate them for the ben
eft Of the Amer ican people"
Senator Lenroot, Republican, Wis
consin. declared that the situation with
respect to both the coal and rail CON
troNcrsies was so had" that the pub
lies interest low justified more than
mediation.'
The president ought to be author
lied TO take over both the railroads
and the mines and in his discretion to
operate them" he said
Complaining about what he charac-
terized as the inacton of both the
president and Congress. Senator
Walsh, Democrat. Massachusetts, de-
clared that much OF the unrest in the
country was due to the fact that
here we dilydally; here we object;
here we filibuster; here we never take.
action"
! Demanding immediate action to re-
! liave what he said threatened to be 6
| desperate situation this coming win
| ter, Senator Walsh warned that there
was a growing belief among the peo-
| ple that in an emergency like this
| they will be allowed to starve and die
| without relief from their govern
mont"
Y igorouslv defending the president
| Senator Cunmins declared that the
| executive had done everything in his
mower to bring about a settlement and
| to relieve the PEOPLE. He added that
! responsibility for the failure TO end
! the strikes rest neither With the pres
! ident nor Congress. hut that blame
! attached to bo;h parties to the contro-
yorSiCs.
/ Both Senators Cummins and Borah
/ asserted that the president had no
power to compel an agreement.
! Senator Nelson. Republican. Mime
sofa. expressed the opinion that the
| whole trouble was "unionism.'
/ Replying. Senator Cummns declared
! that it ought to be crime for en-
| nloYos II strike when the government
undertook to adjudge for them the
! justice of a dispute. He added that in
! his opinion this was fncl remedy Tor
| such conditions as those now existing
I