Evening star., 1922-08-29
Desires Congress Authority,
But Will Not Use 1t Un-
less in Necessity.
ABANDON COAL AGENCY
PLAN WITH HARDING o. K.
Situation Declared Not to Demand
Proposal-0nly to Supervise
Distribution of Fuel.

ftSlucnl lldrulnS bClieNcS lhett
congress should grant him Immediate
authority to take over railroad and
mining properties, ii was said today
IT the White House. but has assured
congressional spokesmen that only
the grimest public necessity would
move him to exercise such powers if
granted.
If Congress indicates unwillingness
to enact the legislation necessary. the
President does not intend to push his
opinion or to make a formal public
demand for the power, it was said.
officials adding that he does not be-
lieve that there is any present neces-
sity for action under such Il grant
Believes Situation Cleared.
In the light of facts presented to
todays cabinet meeting, the Presi-
dent was said to believe that the
hituminous coal producing situation
had cleared itself up. that there
would be an anthracite settlement
within very short time, leaving the
condition of railroads and the shop
mems strike as the only big indus
trIal mcnaceS.
1t was declared the President had
no doubt but that by d stretch of
present established and recognized
administrative power the federal
government could, in emergency.
move to the control of essential pub
lie services without additional au-
;horization, although for the purpose
of aiIaying public excitement and
clearing the atmosphere. he was said
To feel that Congress ought to make
the powers definite and certain by
enactment of legislation.
Will Not Press Action.
At the same time, while he has in
dicated his desire for such enact
ment and further has suggested its
immediate desirability, he is not pre-
pairing the conclusion against opposi-
ton. which already has been voiced
by some congressional leaders.
Definite abandonment of President
Harding's proposal to Congress for
a federal coal agency, with capital to
buy. sell and distribute coal, was an
nounced to the House today by Chair
man Winslow of the interstate COM
Tuerce committee at the beginning of
debate on the bill to create ma
chinery to supervise distribution only.
The. change in plans, Mr.. Winslow
said had been acquiesced in by the
President. whose suggestion for
purchasing and selling agency had
been thrust into the background of
congressional consideration almost as
soon as it was submitted.
To Pursue other Course.
Quoting the recomme ndation as
contained in the Presidents address
to Congress on the rail and coal sit
uation, the committee chairman said
in his report on the distribution bill:
Of he
going suggestion by the President.
his advisers, including members of
the voluntary committee appointed by
the President, and those also who
have advised and assisted in the prep
aration of this bill, have determined
and agreed that the possible plan
suggested by the President could be
we'll set aside, and another method
followed in working out the problem.
The President is in accord with
this conclusion. This bill is the out
growth of such determination and as
such has been considered and report
ed favorably by the interstate COM
merce committee"
Adequate transportation Seen.
Belief that the railroads will be
able to handle the current coal needs
of the country this winter was ex-
pressed by Secretary Hoover, who
said the test would come within the
next two weeks
In the past. MIR. Hoover said. the
best continuous performance of the
roads in handling coal, both bitumi-
nous and anthracite, was approx
imately 13,5O0.000 tons a week, while
for the next six weeks they might be
called upon to move 100000 tons Il
10 however.
could be-cu down by not attempting
to build up stocks and by contlning
distribution to current needs alone
We believe" said the Secretary.
that we will be able to take care of
the current needs-of the country"
one of the difficult problems in the
situation, Mr.. Hoover explained, was
The accumulation OF loaded cars on
the southern coal-carrying roads. he
estimated that there now are between
10000 and $4,000 cars of coal unde-
livered on the five southern coal lines.
Somewhere between the non-union
coal fields of Kentucky and West Vir-
ginia and the northwest. Mr.. Hoover
stated, there also is approximately
100000 tons of coal consigned for the
great lakes region under priority or
ders of the federal fuel distributor.
100000 Tons a Week.
The central coal committee, Mr.
Hoover said. is discussing methods
that can be organized under the
Commerce Commissions
Sriorities to enable movement of nec-
essary fuel supplies to the north
west with the least confusion If
The total existing facilities can be
utilized. he declared. it is hoped to
move 100000 tons of coal a week
TO the lake ports before the close of
navigation. But this fuel supply. he
added. would have to be supplement-
ed during the winter by all-rail ship
ments<of coal to keep the northwest
supplied with fuel until spring.
What might develop during the next
two weeks il the railroads of the
country should find themselves un-
able to handle coal movements for
current needs Mr.. Hoover did not
indicate, declaring that the problem
in such an event would have to be
solved upon the basis of conditions
which might prevail at that time.
Figures setting another high record
for daily coal loadings during the
strike period. made public today by
the Association of Railway EXecu-
lives. showed that on Saturday last
The cars loaded. totaled 22.17S.. ex-7
!. I.-ceding BY 3I2 the total for Friday
I1'he total for the whole of last week