Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-08-04
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARD

PRESIDENT HARDING and his ad-
L ministration forces devoted them
selves last week almost exclusively to
the problems arising from the railway
and coal strikes. That their efforts
might result In the ending of the for
mer vas the renewed hope at the
close of the week, for Mr.. Harding
held a most important conference In
Washington with Chairman L. De Witt
Cuyler Of the American Association OF
Railway Executives, and President
Jewell of the railway shopmen. His
aim presumably was to induce the rail
executives to modify their firm atti-
tude concerning the seniority rule and
to persuade the shopmen to recognize
the decision of the railway labor board
and return to work pending a rehear
ing of their grievances.
After leaving the White House Mr..
Cuyler announced that the executives
of 14S of the largest railroads in the
country would meet in New York on
August 1 to talk owe a tentative plan
for settling the shipments strike. He
would not tell what MI. Harding had
suggested, but denied that he had
asked the executives to recede from
their position on the seniority rule. The
presidents of western roads insisted
the strikers would not be taken back
with full seniority rights restored.
Having abandoned for the time be-
to- 49, bono of opdipO tho cool min
ers' strike, the President and his aids
turned their attention to the question
of averting the threatened fuel fam
inc and followed up the call on the
various state executives to facilitate
and protect the resumption of mining
with measures designed to insure a
fair distribution of such coal as may
be produced and to curb profiteering.
Secretary of Commerce Hoover devised
a plan which was promptly adopted
and put into effect with the legal ap-
prevail of Attorney General Daugher-
ty. 1t rests upon the powers of the
Interstate commerce commission.
which body, declaring the existence
Of a national emergency, took charge
of the routing of cars and the distri-
button of fuel and food. The plan pro-
vided for a committee Of general super
vision in Washington. to be named by
the President and which will establish
In every coal producing district a rep
resentative and a committee Of oper-
ators. Also, there Is an administra-
tive oouorniffna 0Opnnricin0 uonRoconfo.
tives Of the presidential committee to-
gether with representatives Of oper-
ators, representatives Of the railways,
and where necessary, representatives
of the larger consuming groups.
The basis of prices agreed upon
between the operators and the secre-
tary of m on June 1 is to be
maintained, except where varied by
the presidential committee, and this
same basis of price determination shall
be applied to all districts which are
so far not cooperating.
President Harding announced the ap-
pointment of Attorney General Daugh-
erty. Secretary of the Interior Fall,
Secretary of Commerce Hoover, and
Commissioner Aitchison of the inter
state commerce commission as mem
bers of the general committee. Mr..
Hoover is chairman. A fifth mem
Der was to be added 70 undertake the
administrative direction.
Mr.. Hoover called on the governors
of the states TO set up state organiza-
lions to cooperate in the distribution
of the available coal supplies to the
points of greatest need. Distribution
for railway ISL will he directed from