Imperial Valley press., 1922-08-26
MUST SETTLE
STRIKE BY
MONDAY
President Otherwise Will
Ask Congress for
Full Power
CRISIS IN HARD COAL
Watson Brings Word from
White House Limit
Is Reached
CRISIS IN HARD COAL

WASHINGTON, Aug. 26-The fed
eral government will take initial steps
Monday toward the seizure and opera
lion of anthracite mines, unless the haro
coal strike is settled by that time.
This is the determination of Presi-
dent Harding, Senator Watson, Indian2,
declared today after long conference
with the executive.
The president believes q full crisis
impcnds unless operations are resumed
Immediately in the hard coal mines,
Watson declared.
The first step toward seizure will be-
made in the Senate, he declared, with
presentation of bill authorizing the
president to assume full control of pro.
ductiOn.
'sThe president is hopeful that set
tlement may be arranged today" Wat
son said, adding that if an agreement
was not found, the president was pre-
pared to press immediately for legiS
lation by Congress.
Seizure of railroads is not consider
ed by the president to be as necessarv
as operation of the hard coal mines,
Watson said. Action along this line is
not desired Immediately, he added.
Cummins Bill Held Up
WASHINGTON, Aug. 26.-Unexpec.-
ed opposition to the Cummins bill which
would control profiteering in fuel,
forced delay in reporting the measure
out of the Senate interstate commerce
today.
Objections from several members,
plans to report the bill on the Senate
floor today were abandoned and con.
sideration will go over until Monday
Senator Pomerene, Ohio, led the OF
lection to reporting the bill until more
time had been given to study the pow
ers it grants the interstate commerce
commission in establishing priorities
and cmbargoes and in disturbing coal.
No suggestion respecting purchasing
or selling of coal by the government in
accordance with President Harding's
message to Congress, was made or offer
ed as an amendment to the bill
Committee Favors Bill
An unofficial poll of the committee
showed that the consensus was gener-
ally in favor of the bill.
A final effort will be made to bring
about peace in the hard coal fields. II
this fails, Senator Cumnins, after a con.
ference with the president said he
would introduce Il measure next week
calling for federal operation of the
mines.
Seizure of the railroads is not con.
templated until the arrangements have
been given full opportunity to demon
strate their ability to maintain salts.
factory service.
May Confer Blanket Authority
If the lines show signs of breaking
down, Cummins said, another measure
for seizure of the roads will be placed
before Congress.
1t is not the intention of the govern.
ment to make a nationwide seizure %
the roads at one time, although the bin
giving the president the power to take
over the lines may vest him with blan-
ket authority to operate the entire sys-
tenn at one time, Cummins made il
known.
First of all, the coal carrying roads
that fail to function, would be taken
over under the plans, Cummins stated
After that, other roads, showing signs
of breaking down would be taken over,
he said
Bonus Sidetracked for Coal
The anthracite strike has cut off the
coal supply of the great industrial
states and New England, threatening
actual suffering this winter, while i,
seems improbable that the railroads will
be able to handle the record breakin.
traffic facing them due to the settle
ment of the bituminous strike and the
delay i'll moving the bumper crops.
Meanwhile, under special agreement,
the bonus was temporarily laid aside,
to pave the way for immediate dsposi.
tion of the Borah and Cummins coal
bills.