New-York tribune., 1922-08-29
Seizure Program Is Held
Up i'm Expectation That
Compromise Now Pend
ing Will BE Accepted
Two Points Only
Balk Settlement
Operators May Yield ON
Arbitration and Work
ers on 1924 Time Limit

From The Tribune's Washington Bureau E
WASHINGTON, Aug. 28.-Strong
hopes for speedy settlement of the
anthracite controversy that will send
$4,000 miners back to work induced
President Harding to withhold his
plan for seizure Of the hard coal mines,
1t was learned here tonight. With the
return to Washington of Secretary of
Labor Davis and Senator James
Wharton Pepper, who have been in
Philadelphia putting pressure on both
anthracite miners and operators to ad-
just their dispute, it was reported that
compromise settlement was in sight.
The miners and operators are apart
on two questions. One of these is
whether the decisions of the proposed
arbitration body shall be binding. The
miners oppose the idea; the operators
are for it. The other is whether The
proposed contract covering the wage
scale shall extend year beyond next
April. The operators do not want it to
60 beyond next April; the miners want
it to run to April, 1924.
Compromise Is Considered
The compromise which is now ex-
pected would involve the operators
yielding on the arbitration question
and the miners giving in on the length
of the contract. Senator Pepper ex-
pressed the hope that settlement
would be reached quickly.
President Harding discussed the in
dustrial situation with his advisers
during a weekend trip on the May
capital to-day. He was said to feel
that the improvement in sight would
obyiate the need of government opera
tion of either mines OF railroads. He
expects Congress to go ahead with
Legislation to prevent profiteering and
to Investigate the coal Industry. sSHe Is
said to feel thst for the present the
important thing is to facilitate and
accelerate the movement OF fnel, thus
getting soft coal distributed where
most needed.
The steps which will be taken to ac-
celerate shipments of coal are not an
nounced, but among the possibilities
are curtailment OF less essential
freight traffic and also passenger and
express business. Some of the Presi-
dents advisers are urging him to have
nothing to do with government opera
tion Of either roads or mines, but
others assert that the plan to press
for legislation to authorize the Execu-
tive to take over these properties is
not abandoned, but rather held in
allegiance as last resort remedy if
conditions grow too grave.
The necessity of early action by Cen
gress was emphasized by the discon-
tinuance to-day of the voluntary coal
distributing committee headed by Fuel
Director Spencer. The fair-price agree
ment has expired, and pending action
by Congress the only restraint on
prices is the schedule Of fair prices
fixed by state authorities.
Signs of strong opposition in the
Senate to any sort of coal legislation
doomed up more clearly than ever to-
day. Not only is there antagonism to
the Borah bill for an Investigating
commission, but the Cummins bill CIV
ing the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion power to prevent profiteering is
encountering demonstrations OF hos
tility. Both are supported by the Ad-
ministration.
Anti-Strike Issue Raised
Furthermore, there were indications
that when the Cummins anti-profteer-
ing bill comes up in the Senate efforts
will be made to attach an anti-strike
amendment to it. This would stir up
the WnOle antl.Strlke issue, WhicH was
fought over in connection with the
transportation act. Senator Watson, of
Indiana, said that when the Cummins
bill came UP he intended to urge that
anti-strike legislation was the only
way TO reach the industrial situation
effectively and prevent recurrence of
strikes in the coal industry
Favorable report was made by the
House interstate and foreign com
merce committee on the Winslow bill
for Federal control of distribution and
coal prices. Their action was taken
after five hours of public hearings.
Representative Rayburn, Democrat, Of
Texas, and Sanders, Republican, of In
diana, were the only committee mem
bers who opposed it. Republican
leader Mondell expects to call the
measure up in the House tomorrow.
A meeting of the rules committee and
other leaders Will decide tomorrow
morning on the time limit for debate,
but it is understood no attempt to OBJ
tain final vote will be made before
Wednesday afternoon.
The Senate interstate commerce
committee again considered the Cum
tContlnuod on next paae)