The Washington herald., 1922-08-28
Leaders Inclined to Ask
Delay in Authorizing
Drastic Action.
STILL HOPEFUL
STRIKE MAY END
Democrats Are Expected
To Oppose Cummins'
Measure.

President Harding. returning
today from a weekend cruise on
the Mayfiower with Senators Cum
minis and Kellogg Of the Senate
Interstate Commerce Committee.
and Secretaries Hoover and Fall.
brings back a definite program for
handling the mine and rail strike
situation
The two-dsy Maynower session
OF this strike cabinet is expected
to result in an immediate clarifca-
ton OF the confusion and near-po-
litical panic growing out OF that
Interpretation OF Cummins' Friday
night announcement which indi-
Gated the President contemplated
immediate seizure Of the anthracite
mines and some OF the railroads
ultimately. unless the situation IN
both strikes improved.
Divergent View. Apparent
Meantime. however. the situation
in Congress increases the doubt
that seizure legislation can be
rushed through with that speed op-
timistically forecast by cummins.
At least four main schools OF
thought are waiting to seek eN-
preston on the matter.
First, Senator Cumnins-stand-
ing virtually alone. in the opinion
of certain administration leader
is expected to Introduce in the
Senate Interstate Commerce Com
mittee a bill authorizing the Pres
ident to operate the anthracite
mines unless the anthracite strike
situation clears early this week. or
unless the Maynower conference
changes his plan.
Second. Chairman winslow. OF
I the House Interstate Commerce
/ Committee, is expected to condurt
a five-hour hearing today on the
coal distribution bill and obtain n
/ favorable report on IL late In tho
day. He expects the bill TO he
called up in the House tomorrow.
VIII Demnnh Postponement
Third. certain Republican mem
bers of the Senate Interstate Com
merce Committee are expected to
seek a postponemnt. should Cum
Minis attempt to seek a favorable
report on his mine-seizure measure.
branches are expected to declare
either directly or by implication
that the Industrial sickness cam
not be cured, but only prolonged
/ by such a temporary measure as
Federal emergency operation.
Then there is the possibility Of re-
sumed negotiations between the an
thracite operators and the United
Mine Workers in Washington. through
the good Offices Of Secretary Davis
and Senator Pepper. Such a confer
ence might delay any mine control
legislation-and rail control bill is
not a matter Immediately in pros
pect, according to leaders.
Three Leaders Absent.
The first eddy OF confusion cen
ters around the Cummins bill An
unofficial poll of the Senate commit
tee reveals that leading Republicans.
Senators Frelinghuysen. PoindeNter
! and Elkins. are out OF town and
are expected to remain away for some
i time. Senator Elkins is in Europe
Senator La Toilette Is back from his
Wisconsin campaign and in obedience
to his personal precedent OF insur-
gency. as well as his present SYM
pathies in the industrial crisis. may
vote against the measure, joining with
the Democrats. Senators Pomerene
and Stanley. two OF the outsts nding
Democratic members Of the commit
tee. on the other hand. may be ex-
pected to vote according TO conscience.
Fate Of Bill ncertaIn.
In view OF divergent opinions. tl1-
fatee OF Cummins' mine-seizure bili
seems fairly uncertain. His coal dis
tribution bill. which may he con
sidered by the Senate today or to-
morrow after the Borah coal com
mission bill has been voted on NAV
also meet defeat through preference
for the Winslow bill. This latter
measure. House sdherents contend.
was prepared with far greater &C
curacy.
Finally. the Democratic Represen-
tatives and Senators may go through
with their already attempted hlibuster
against the coal legislation and the
total score Of the legislative game
may yet be: One bonus and several
coal bills to go.
Debate OnBonusToday.
The House has passed the coal com
mission bill. The Senate has sub
stituted the Borah bill. The Demo
Gratis have filibustered on the bin
and held up the vote 20 date. To-
days Senate calendar calls for bonus
debate after a short discussion OF
the pending coal legislation. A unsn-
imous consent agreement provides
that after 6 O'Clock this evening"
no member shall speak more than
once nor more than twenty minutes
on the bonus This means a vote.
probably late tomorrow.