The New York herald., 1922-08-28
Not to Take Over Roads
Unless They Fail to
Give Service.
CABINET MEMBERS MEET
Cummins and Lasker Also
With Harding on the
Mayflower.
Special Dispatch to THE New YoRK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. C.. Aug. II.

Special Dispatch to THE New YoaK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. C.. Aug. 2S.
This week in all probability will
prove the crucial and decisive period
in the industrial crisis confronting the
country. On the immediate develop
ments ahead. both in regard to the
condition Of the railroads and the an
thracite strike. will depend whether
the extreme measures held in reserve
by the Administration are to be
evoked.
President Harding is expected to re-
turn to Washington tomorrow from
his week end cruise on the Mayflower
with a more concrete and definite idea
as to what legislation is necessary to
give to him the reserve powers which
he wants in the contingency that the
anthracite coal mines and some of the
railroads may have to be taken over
II Is understood that the cruise was
planned following the confusion re3ult-
ing from the somewhat diverse accounts
as to what actually was decided on at
the White House conference on Friday
night. when the President discussed
with Attorney-General Daugherty and
Senator Cummins (Iowa). chairman OF
the Senate Interstate Commerce Com
mittee, tho situation that would exist
IL as a last resort he had to seize he
anthracite mines and some of the rail-
roads as we'll
Definite Program Due.
The expectation among Administra-
tion leaders day was that the con-
ferences Of Friday night and of Satur-
/ day would b. continued on board the
Mayflower, and the composition Of the
7 Presidents party strengthened the be-
lief that whether an announcement
would be forthcoming a definite program
Of legislation would be outlined.
That the President should have with
him Secretary of Commerce Hoover, Sec
retary of the Interior Fall. Senator
Cummins. Senator Kellogg tMinn) and
Chairman Lasker of the Shipping Board
indicated that he intended to round out
TO concrete form the ADMINISTRATORS
plan of action.
IL was Indicated Tonight that the an
nouncement made yesterday to the ef-
feet that only as last resort would the
President consider the taking over Of
the railroads or portion of them IS to
hold good. At the same time there Is
every indication that the plan to arm
him with powers to act IL necessary viii
be further developed and concrete de-
tails OF legislation worked out.
II appears now that the plan Is for
Senator Cummins to have ready such a
bill as would give the President author
i IN haf ha
deemed necessary in the public inter-
est while II would be definitely under
stood that IL would crly be In the case
OF actual breakdown that the power
would be used and In all probability
would be confined to coal carrying roads.
Davis Seeks ConI Pence.
With regard to the planned legisia-
tion to take over the anthracite mines
everything depends on the success OF
efforts now under way to get the op-
orators and miners together. Secretary
OF Labor Davis and Senator Pepper
(Rep.. Pa.), are now engeged in Phila-
delphia In an effort to obtain a
settlement which would obviate the seiz-
ure plan intimated by the Admin
istration.
While the necessary legislation to
take over the mines will be held up
pending the result at the efforts at a
rapprochement the program Is to have a
measure prepared ana ready for sub
mission the moment It becomes apparent
that an agreement 10 resume operations
is not In sight.
President Harding has made Il quite
clear that he does not plan to seize
any railroad unless II becomes abso-
lutely necessary to do so. At the sam
time II has been unequivocally set forth
that the Government must reserve to it,
self the right 10 Judge when railroad
has failed to give service and the dis
position IL to give the carriers every
opportunity" 10 show that they are able
to take care OF the needs Of the country.
Because of the possibility that Con.
gress might adjourn Senator Cummins
and others OF the Presidents advisers
thought IL wise that legisla ton giving
the President discretionary powers
should be passed now. This the Prcsi-
dent himself. apparently approves On
the other hand vigorous attack on
the proposed plan was launched the
moment II became public and II was
because of this attack that reinsurance
had TO be given that the President did
not intend any precipitate action.
Question OF Opposition.
Inc QNFNllOn now ~ NHfNHFT tfie
strength OF the opposition to even the
suggestion Of Government operation OF
the roads VIII permit OF the passage
OF the legislation which Senator Cum
minis and the President discussed This
IL one OF the questions which arc ea-
pected 10 be decided on IN course Of
the conferences on the Mayflower
Already the railroad executives and
the leaders OF railroad labor have let
- -. -
The labor group welcomes the sugges-
ton as Il interprets IT, Some OF the
lcadere have gone so far ms 10 declare
that II the roads were taken over they
would never go back TO private owner
ship. In other words the mancuver
would work directly into the hands OF
the Plumb plan league, OF which great
Confined on Page Two.