New-York tribune., 1922-05-02
Harding Hopes
To End Broken
Year In Coal
Plans, With Hoover's Aid,
TO Stabilize Industry by
Stimulating Summer Out
put aud Distribution
Considers Aid on Freight
House Likely to Pass Bland
Bill This Week; No Strike
Intervention Considered
From 1he 1,1nune,s wcshirator Bpreau

From The T,Ibunes Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, May 1.--President
Harding's plan, now in the making
under the supervision of Secretary Of
Commerce Hoover, for permanent
stabilization of the coal industry has,
as one of its high points. a program
cipally through stimulation Of the
summer output, distribution and stor-
sge.
1t was learned to-day from Repre-
tentative Oscar Bland. Republican, Of
indiana, after q conference he had
with the PRESIDENT that the Executive
believes, with the aid Of special freight
rates and other means vt the disposal
of the government, a mcthcd can be
worked. out to eliminate thc seasonal
problem of the industry This, he is
understood to believe, wiN 80 a long
way toward preventing tu'ure breaks
between operators am miners by pro
vidng evenly sprcad out employment
and production, relieving the periodic
transportation strains and stopping
price fluctuations TO large extent.
Has Ideas on Strike
"Thc President is confident such
plan can be successfully worked out"
said MIR Bland, who is the author of
the bill establishing commission to
INQUIRE into labor conditions in the
coal industry which is to be acted upon
tomorrow by the House Labor Com
mittee. Eve discussed the coal situa
tion generally. The President also has
some ideas about the present strike,
but we did not so especially into thar
phase of the trouble"
Chairman John /, Nolan Of the La Dor
Committee, said tonight that the
Bland bill would receive favorable ac-
tion before the end of this week. That
was as far as the House would 60 at
present, he said, for the time has not
yet arrived for action looking toward
a Federally instigated joint meeting of
operators and miners.
There has not been enough pres
sure for the adoption of that course,
which would indicate clearly that we
have not yet entered upon any emer-
gency stage in the strike" said Chair
man Nolan. Until there is real de-
mand the committee does not feel that
is is called upon to consider any means
Of ending the controversy
Enforcement Provided
The Bland measure, declared Mr.. No.
Ian, would give to Congress legislation
with teeth in it, for getting at the
real facts underlying the causes of the
present strike. Real force would be
given to the proposed coal investiga-
tion agency in Section 8 Of the bill,
which provides chat TO person shall
ship or receive from shipment in COM
merce among the several states or
with foreign nations any coal during
such time during the existence of the
coal investigation agency, as such per
son willfully fails or refuses to make
any report required by the coal in
vestigation agency, fails to comply
with any subpoena issued bv the
agency, refuses to testify or answer
any lawful inquiry made in any hear
ing before the agency, or refuses any
duly authorized officer or employee Of
the agency right Of access or copy, or
hinders, obstructs or resists him in
the exercise of such rights"
Violation of another clause dealing
with false statements to the agency
would permit, upon conviction. a fine
Of $4,000 or Imprisonment for one
wear or both