Evening star., 1922-08-03
Coal Distribution Plans Generally
Are Approved.


Good. so far as it goes" to quote
the Brooklyn Eagle. is the Verdiet
of most newspapers on the action Oh
the administration in assuming con-
troll of the distribution Of coal. Ihat
some positive step has become neces-
sary is generally recognized ana inc
Interstate Commerce Commission
priority order, the New York Globe
thinks, will strike the average man
as the least the government could 20
in the present emergency.
But objection is raised that il IS
ONLY a palliative which does not al
feet the issue Indeed. as some
writers view it. such governmental
action makes the fundamental prob
lem even more difficult to meet, by
producing temporary sense ol se
curity which will increase the tend
ency TO drift without bringing both
the rail and the coal strike TO def
mite head.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer sees in
the COMMISSIONS action IAN open ao-
mission that the coal reserves that
were expected to tide the country
over the strike, however protractcd
it might prove are now near to ex-
haustion and that the coal currently
produced would be inadequate to
the nations needs even If 1t could
be moved with the greatest facility"
The Boston Traveller takes more
cheerful view. The emergency meas
ure does not mean, in its opinion,
that the nation is in desperate
straits. but rather that the federal
authorities do not intend conditions
TO become any worse than may be
necessary
From similar viewpoint. the
Newark News thinks the government
is merely taking the bull by the
horns" and that il finds in the
emergency car priority routing pow
ers Of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission" adequate means of accom-
plishing an equitable distribution
without a stretching Of statute or
reliance on dubious implied powers
of government is a matter which the
The source of the power which the
government is now to exercise is
the transportation act of 1920, which,
as the Pittsburgh Chronicle-Tele-
graph summarizes 1t, expressly au-
fhorizes the Interstate Commerce
Commission when in its opinion
shortage of equipment. congestion of
traffic or other emergency exists to
act summarily in prescribing routes,
and at all times it is given extern
sive Jurisdiction over the use. con-
troll. supply. movement and distribu-
tiOI VI cars locomotives.
'Self-defense.' the st. Paul Dis
patch declares. includes the right to
take the offensive if necessary" and
the war measure" to which the gov
ernment now resorts 'is an act of
self-hefense on behalf of the people
of the United States"
While governmental control, in the
view of the Cincinnati Enquirer, "is
a step that no one cared to see re-
peated," the emergency is such that
the measure is justified. for. as the
Richmond Times-Dispatch says. ''un
coal famine may be avoided only by
a temporary GENERALIZATION of con-
troll" Moreover. the service Of cars
to the mines should. the New Orleans
es-Picayune believes. afford the
coal mines now working a fair op-
tion." and thus increase the supply
available for distribution.
Then the opportunity for control of
profiteering which government regu-
lation affords is looked upon by many
writer's as in itself justifying inter-
ference. That the adoption Of some
such measure was Immediately ur-
gent the Indianapolis News says. "is
evident from the course prices have
taken within the last day or two. In
some cases they have doubled and
more, and under the stimulus of wild
DlQQlnS WOulu pIODdDly lar exceed
the highest war figures if unre-
strained" But "if the government
Is sincere and carries out its pro-
gram" the Scranton Times is conf
dent that it can absolutely prevent
extortion in prices" And following
such checking of exorbitant prices,
the Pittsburgh Leader hazards the
guess that possibly when those who
have built their hopes upon
big cleanup through profiteering
through the fall and winter see their
plans go glimmering. they may find
the path toward an adjustment of the
wage dispute smooth and well lighted.
But however effective the remedial
measures of the administration may
be, they are. the Baltimore Sun points
out, merely designed to control one
symptom of a serious disorder" and,
as the Buffalo News says. they will
not aid in adjusting the situation"
Indeed, the Grand Rapids Press fears
that "such schemes to alleviate the
effect of the strike upon the con-
sumtng public may only prolong it
and aeeravate the differences and
the bitterness" The Columbia Is. Co.
state agrees that the administra-
tion's action may we'll serve to in
crease bitterness. since, In effect, 1t
is equivalent to arraying the gov.
ernment ag.nst the striking miners.
for when through the Interstate
Commerce Commission the govern
ment lends It's tremendous powers to