Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-08-28
HARDING LOOKS FOR
. PEACE WITHOUT U.s..
TAKING OVER MINES
May Ask Authority, However,
for Seizure Should il Be-
come Necessary.
HE is AGAIN OPTIMISTIC
By AssocIated Pross 70 Every Evening.

I ~ pr1F@sHt't 'fN W f<FffF f<Ffiiffs
Washington. Aug. 2s.-Whlie COM
mittees Of the Senate and House wers
at work today 10 perfect coal distribu-
/ ton Legislation recommended by tho
administration. President Harding and
/ his advisers prepared 20 bring 10 bear
all the powers they now possess Tor
| Improvement Of fuel transportation
I facilities
| As a result Of the Presidents week
end conference Il was indicated that hs
still believed II would be possible 70
restore normal conditions without a
resort 70 government operation Of rail-.
and coal properties affected by the
strike situation. and that he felt much
could be done In that direction even
before Congress acts 20 create n fuel
distribution agency and TO clothe tho
interstate Commerce Commission with
additional powers over priority.
At the same time. however. both ths
Senate and House interstate cOrnrncrce
committees we're rcdoubling their Of
forts to complete the distribution and
priority bills. and steps 20 authorizs
the executive 70 take over roads and
mines remained in tho offing with
congressional opinion divided as 10
the advisability Of such a course at
the present moment.
with the Presidents return IN
! Washington this morning from
week. end cruise on the yacht May
flower. where Secretary Hoover. At
torney General Daugherty and Chair
nnan Cummfns Of the Senate committees
were among his guests and conferees.
IL was indicated that for the time being
the attention Of executive officials
would be centered with increased vigor
: upon what is said 10 be regarded by
Mr.. Harding as the cruZ Of the whole
industrial situafion--the movement of
!. coal.
As outlined in an authoritative quar-
ter. the Mayfower conferences reach
= ed the conclusion that the bituminous
- coal situation was In a fair way 70
clear Itself up entirely. that the an
=, thracIte strike showed Indications ~
settIement in the very near future
a and that II facilities could be provided
TO accelerate shipment of the fuel sup
:, plies thus promised. the general situ-
:, alton would be such TO enable a gradual
re-estabIishment OF complete stability
- Just what executive steps are iT
contemplation 10
nents was not revealed. but 10 was in
!. dicated that both the Interstate Com
merce Commission and the emergency
u fuel distribution already set up woule
sc be relied on 10 proved effective rnea
! sures 10 protect the interests Of th'
public There were intimations tha
70 in order to get the maximum results
ID curtailment of passenger. express
u and freight traffic in all commoditie
ne except fuel and essential food-stuff
OF was among the possibilities.
There was noticeably increased optt
on nlism at the White House today owe
10 the anthracite situation. officials clos
TO the President indicating that the.
" expected some agreement within 4
p hours that would insure n resumption
e of hard coal production. Their hope
We're centered in the conferences 4
es, progress at Philadelphia, where peac
90 overtures originating from Washing
m, ton were reported TO have made a IA
op vorable impression.
y Representative Goodykoontz. Re
ss. publican. West Virginia. attacked IN
ay winsIow bill as perfectly useless an
IN utterly worthless" and as unconstitu
re tional. Congress. he said. should de
vote its attention TO opening trans
cir portation facilities and thus release
ses food OF coal which would take car
lie, Of prices.