The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-04-02
Leaders Favor Legislatit to
Prevent Recurrence Of
Coal Wars.
OWNERSHIP ISSUE RAISED
Seator Borah Says Way
Must BE Found to Stop
Gigantic Waste.
Special Dispatch 10 THE NEw YORK HnrALD.
New York Herald Bureau
Washington, ID. c., April 4.

Washington. ID. c.. April !. I
Leaders in Congress declared Con
gressional action Of some sort is prob
able IL the coal strike continues for a
few weeks. Opinion was divided on
the probable duration OF the strike.
Official figures showing coal produc-
tion in TIE week ended March 25 dis
closed that II ,A37 900 tons bituminous
coal we're produced. The output was
the largest since December, 1920. Pro-
duction, however, was still far short
of what the mines can produce, the
Geological Survey announced.
Production last week, though stimu-
lated over preceding weeks by the
close approach Of tie miners walkout,
stilI was nearly 100000 tons below
the output Of the week preceding the
coal strike of 1919.
The Geological Survey estimated that
as the present rate Of consumption and
shipment abroad is only about $4,000
tons week last weeks production
added 100000 10 consumers stock piles.
estimate that stocks In hands of con
sumers would reach 63.ocooco tons BY
April l.
The administration tonight was re-
ported to be watching developments in
the strike situation very closely. though
this was not taken to Indicate any i'm
mediate Government action. The opin-
ion prevails among high Government
officials that the strike win be short
lived.
Proponents OF Congressional action
said Congress can serve the nation BY
seeking formula TO prevent the fre-
quent recurrence Of battles between
operators and miners. That means, in
all likelihoon, joint Congressional in
vestigation.
Since 1900 practically every year has
brought the country into n coal strike
causing suffering and Inconvenience 10
consumers and hampering industry ana
transportation
Losses suffered BY operators and
miners and ~ shortened production to-
tai s5,oo.co0ooo in the last twenty years.
Il Is estimated.
HpFr toHl Tor tonsusters.
Reorganization or the coal Industry or
public ownership Of the mines Il faced
by the Government in the coal strike.
Senator Borah ddaho) declared tonight.
"If the coal Industry IL not reorganized
IN the interest OF the public, then ii win
be up to the public TO try the experiment
OF public ownership" Mr.. Borah said
The present strike Is the symptom. The
disease Is the chaotic and shamelessly
"asteful method in which the industry
y now being carried on
There Is no possible explanation ar
justification FOR tho price or coal other
than that OF waste and bad management
and unconscionable profits.
The average bitumionus mine runs
about 800 OF possibly go days out or s65
These unproductive hours are sheer
waste. There follow tho fixed charges.
the depreciation or Idle mines. idle ears.
sc. This item of waste alone has bean
estimated at $500, 10000 year Either
10 Dor or the consuming public must paw
this. for glance AZ the profits discioses
that the operators take on no part or IL.
Cannot shift Easily.
Tho coal miner Is in sense an
expert workman. lie can not very
well mine coal one month and work
II the wheat field the next Eve7 II
he could adjust himself as 3 laborer
TO tho situation, the propindulty IN tho
Work - not AZ hand
''r find In the Pittsburgh district The
average days worked by miners N 1921
was i23. and the miners annual avcrage
earnings were sTs2 This situation l.
due e the method under which the
industry is carried on
The public finally PASS FOR All these
thugs. The reckoning ir regard 10 this
coal industry Is not alone between tho
cucrstors and the miners but between
the coal industry and tho public"
Investigation was being considered
to-day by leaders both in Senate and
House. In the upper house careful
study was being made or Il = situatiSt.
by Senators Cspper and Underwood II
ie regarded as probable that a resolu
r~usfuu~A -.