The New York herald., 1922-08-26
FUEL CRISIS BILLS
WILL Be RUSHED
Continued from First Page.


and distribution OF coal. and in or
der to provide coal for Cd the army.
navy and militia of the United
States. (2) the Government of the
Unitad States. (S) carrying tho
mails and maintaining the postal
service and the post offices. (4) the
maintenance Of commerce with for
eign nations and among the sew
eral States and with the Indian
tribes, CD the territories and pos
sessions Of the United States, (6)
the execution Of the laws OF the
United States and (7) the welfare
and safety of the people of the
United States---the President Of the
United States, II he deems 1t neces-
sary and for such periods Of time
as he deems necessary, IL hereby
authorized to acquire. by condemna-
tion or otherwise, any or all of the
coal mines within the United States,
and to operate such mines and to
distribute the coal therefrom, and to
employ or create such agencies as
he deems necessary. There is here
by appropriated the moneys neces-
sary to make Just compensation for
private property taken and to carry
out the provisions OF this section.
In support of his amendment, Senator
Edge said: eve are faced to-day by
condition and while we are legislat-
ing we should give the President author
ity to act beyond and above any pow
ers which he may need. The questions
involved have been removed from
mere dispute and apparently the an
thracite conference has been dissolved
without hope. We in the East depend
for our fuel supplies entirely upon an
thcnA Att xr..It k. .,,cr rn~fs, 10,
thousands of homes If something is not
done.
Would Let Courts Decide.
II frankly do not know about the
constitutionality OF my amendment. I
am not a lawyer, but ! know that the
lawyers in this body will promptly dis
agree upon the question of constitu-
tionality as they always have In the
past. so that we can let the matter
go to the courts without wasting time
on that issue. We authorize the Presi-
dent to take the mines and he can take
them until the courts rule otherwise
think the Cummins bill to stop
profiteering and this bill by Senator
Borah for a fact finding commission
are essential. but these leave the situA-
tion in the mining. the production, the
to-day Tell the President we delegate
this power in trust to him to use. I
am sure as you are oil sure he will
use it discreetly for the public welfare"
Senator Borah objected TO the Edge
amendment. He said it raised a seri-
Gus question, one that should not be
taken up as an amendment, but that
he believed the President should be given
all of the power necessary.
Senator Edge replied that he did not
want to do anything to impede the Borah
bill. And Senator Borah said he would
be glad to aid the passage of the Edge
proposal as a separate measure.
Senator Sutherland CIV. Va.) inquired
whether the amendment did not mean
naturalization. Senator Edge responded
that IL did not. 1t was designed only
to meet the emergency, he said, and
there was no Senator more opposed to
Government ownership or participation
in industry than he.
Senator Sutherland inquired II any
figures had been compiled TO show the
total or the money appropriated.
Senator Edge said that 20 him money
was no consideration with the life and
health OF the people In jeopardy and he
was not concerned in the coat. but it
would be largely governed by the extent
70 which the P-estden. had to use the
powers granted, The Senate has spent
other billions. he said. when the public
was not facing distress and disaster, and
IS engaged upon all effort to appropriate
billions now for a bonus, In which the
health and life of the public Is not
concerned.
Senator Fletcher demanded to know
how long tho nation would be at tho
mercy of the United Mine Workers. He
cited the statement of President Harding
in his message that the country was at
the mercy OF tnis group and declar
as an American ctizca and member
Of the Government he resented it. He
urged immediate action. not only on the
Borah bill and the coal purchasing
agency measures recommended by the
President but upon the Edge amend
ment and other proposals Nr quick and
drastic action. Senator Fletcher then
recitcd from Government reports state
ments as TO the coal miners being for
eigners and unable to speak the English
language.
Senator Robinson protested against
restricting the President in selecting
commissioners for the fact finding agency,
He believed that men In the industry
should be appointed so that the COM
mission would have a membership which
knew the subject