The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-28
Committees Down to Work ON
Coal Distribution Plan.
President Is Back After a
Cruise Down the Potomac.
HOPES FOR INDUSTRIAL PEACE
Rail and Coal Authority To Be
Precautionary Measure.
Give Coal and Food Priority
Over Other Shipments.
(By The Associated Presa.l

Washington, Aug. 2s.-While COM
mittees OF the senate and house were
at work today on coal distribution
legislation, President Harding and his
advisers prepared to bring to bear all
their powers for Improvement of fuel
transportation facilities.
1t was indicated the president still
believed it would be possible to re-
store normal conditions without re-
sort to government operation. At the
same time. both the senate and house
interstate commerce committees were
redoubling their efforts to complete
the distribution and priority bills and
take over roads and mines remained
in the offing.
Just what executive steps are in
contemplation to facilitate coal ship
dicated that both the interstate COM
merce commission and the emergency
fuel distribution machine already set
UP would be relied on to provide ef-
fective measure to protect the inter-
ests OF the public.
May Curtail Their Shipments.
There were intimations that in orr
der to get the maximum results a
curtailment of passengers, express and
freight traffic in all commodities ex-
cept fuel and the foodstuffs was
among the possibilities.
With little discussion and no record
vote the senate committee voted a fa-
vorable report today on the Cunmins
bill to create a coal distribution
agency and to extend the authority of
| the interstate commerce commission
over priority of shipments. and It was
| Indicated that the measure would
probably be taken up in the senate it.
| self, later in the week
At the same time the house COM
mittee began a hearing on compan-
ion bill presented by Winslow.
/ m
There was noticeable fnoreased or
| tiniism at the White House over the
anthracite question. officials close to
the president indicating they expect
4 ed some agreement within forty eight
hours.
( A new high water mark for coal
loadings since the strike began was
announced by the Association of Rail-
way Executives whose figures for last
Friday, the latest available. showed
that on that day 21,s66 cars were
| loaded. On the basis of figures al
ready received the association an
nounced that loadings for the whole
of last week probably exceeded
Back From Weekend Cruise.
Washington. Aug. 2s.-President
Harding and the party of Officials
who accompanied him on a week end
cruise down the Potomac returned to
the capital early today, the presiden-
|
navy yard shortly before O'clock
The president went direct to the
| White House.
President Harding's return from his
weekend cruise, during which he 10
understood to have advised with Off
Gals who accompanied him on the
/ strike situation, was expected in some
| quarters to be followed by a definite
announcement of the administrators
| policy with respect to the proposal
| that congress authorize the executive
to take over and operate rail and coal
/ properties The exact scope of the
| governments policy will ne revealed
in any event within the next few days.
Still Hopes For Peace.
Before leaving on cruise. the presi-
dent who WAS accompanied by Secre-
| tary Hoover, Attorney General Dough-
| erty and Chairman Cummins, of tho
| senate interstat- commerce commit
/ tee, was eprese by those in his
! confidence as still believing that in
dustrial peace would be restored with
| out resort to government operation,
but is inclined to feel that authority
| fo- such CoE~se should be granted
\ as a precautionary measure before
congress took its contemplated recess.