Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-08-18
National Coal Agency
Is Urged By President
In, Speech To Congress
CONTINUED from PAGE /,

said In beginning his address. The
situation growing out Of the prevail
ing railway and coal mining strikes is
serious, so menacing to the nations
welfare that I should be remiss If I
tailed frankly to lay the matter
before you and at the same time &C.
quaint you and the WHOLE people with
such efforts as the executive branch
OF the govornment as made by the
voluntary exercise Of its good offices
to effect q settlement" .
The Miners Strike,
The president then detailed events
leading up to the miners strike and
the barren efforts Of the government
to avert the tie-up Of the coal indus
Try and Its unavailing attempts to end
the strike after its inception.a
Governors In various st&tes re-
ported hat their operators and
miners had no dispute, President
Harding said, land were eager to re-
sumo production. District leaders In
formed me that their workmen were
anxious to return to their jobs, but
that they were not permitted to do
so. Hundreds. of wives Of workmen
nave addressed the White House, be-
seeming q settlement. alleging that
they knew no grievance, and, there is
an unendins story, of appeals for re-
lief where necessity or suffering were
1mpelling where a mere expression Of
need ought to find ready compliance.
Government Neutral.
:, AT every STAGE. the government
mas been a Just neutral regarding
scales and working contracts,
there ar0 fundamental evils in gu
present system of production and dis
tribution which make the wage prob.
lem difficult. In the bituminous coal
fields are vastly more mines than
are required to the country needs and
there are 100000 more mine workers
than are needed to produce In con-
tinuous employment the country'h
normal requirements: BY continuous
employment I mean approximately
$50 working days in tho year. In
many instances last year men were
employed less than $50 days, in some
cases much fewer than, that. In the
over-manned sections men divide the
working time, and high wages are
necessary to meet the cost of the
barest living. Interrupted Transport
tations. sorely broken employment.
the failure to develop storage against
enlarged demands and inadequate
carrying-all these present problems
bearing on righteous wage adjust
ton. >.
.a-.. #. .L " hAsCo OOL1Lut6SlOll 70
Because Of these things, because
of the impressions Of many cases Of
unjustifable profits in the industry
and because public interest demands
investigation and demands the hnd-
ing of facts be given to the public, I
am asking at your> hands the authori-
ty to create a commission to make a
searching investigation into the whole
coal industry, with provisions for it's
I a NryfNy1 o1ffHy{ti@n nnl fh4 I~uSv -
authority to reveal every phase of
coal production, sale and distribu-
t~ion.sssk"
The necessity for such a searching
national investigation with %conserva-
tive recommendation is imperative.
At the monlent the coal skies are
clearing but unless we find a cure Tor
the economic ills which affect the in
dustry and therein find a basis for
righteous relationship, we shall be
faced with a like menacing situation
on next April /, on the expiration Of
the wage contracts which are now be-
The ALMOST total exhaustion Of
stocks of coat, the crippled condition
of the railways, the distressed esitua-
ticn that has arisen and might grow
worse in u great cities due to the
shortage Of anthracite. the suffering
which might arise in the northwest
through failure to meet winter needs
by lake transportation. all these add
ed to the possibility Of outrageous
price demands, in spite Of the, most
Jealous voluntary effort of the gov
eminent to restrain them make it
necessary to ask you to consider at
once some form OF temporary control
Of distribution and prices.
Asks Approval.
"1f it may have your approval: I
recommend immediate provision for
a temporary national coal agency
and distribute coal which is Carried
in interstate shipment. "
"This proposal does not relate to
any possible employment in intra-
state shipments. Price restraint Ind
equitable distribution in interstate
shipments Is a possibility of the state
owned government. Such voluntary
activities, as have been carried on
thus far, the federal government has
endsavored to re-establish the au-
tn ority and responsibility in the state
which was under mind In the neces-
sary Capitalization Of authority dur
Ing the world al
The public menace in the coal sit
~ 0SNGS "a
serious at the beginning Of July by
the strike Of the federated shop crafts
In the railroad service--a strike
against "a wage decision made BY the
railroad labor board, directly affect
Ing approximately 400, 900 men. :
The railroad labor board was ere
ated by congress for the express pur.
pose OF hearing and decidinsN dtsputef
between the carriers and their en-
ployes,- 50 that no controversy need
lead TO an Interruption in interstate
q transportation. 49,.
Eriers. :
Law Inadequate.
The law creating the railroad Ia
popular impression, It has little Or nc
power to enforce It's decisions. It cur
impose no penalties on either party
Its decisions. IL cannot
halt q strike and manifestly congress
|delfbefateiy omitted the enactment 81
cgMpuIaoryp Arbitration. The Decisions
Of the board must be made erforci-
bic and effectivs against 0arriers and
eintlpyee alike
"Happdly IL IL g1ways lawful and
Outlines possible to settle diaputel
0utstde of c0urt, 10 in3ia desire u
sdrve public welfare. I 5vdututed upon
|anAt1snnpt "a mediation
asriSsa fhouxh ths rs1Isdl dfd
li1oe ~ m neGottattpn. III In tn
tyneEnrnsBt 6nRIy one ac6dfns 81
- akEildAg workrne1@to gt14EN &
Ew6rk~to, an tAacAffistt Ksdgn
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