Evening star., 1923-10-14
WIDER US. POLICE POWERS
TO BE ASKED OF CONGRESS
Broad Constitutional Amendment to
Z Meet Perplexing National Ques-
tons Likely Medium


that will start the fghs 70 broaden
The police powers of tbs federal gov
ernment over other things. 1t Is
known that one senattf at least is
giving consideration 10 the draft of
a substitute resolution broadening
the scope.
AS now contemplated, the proposed
substitute would not designate by
name the coal industry or Iynching
or any other activity which the fed
eral government might have power
to deal with. 1t would present a
definite proposal, however, that the
police powers of the federal govern
ment be extended in cases in which
the interest of the whole people ~
involved, with Congress as the Judge
In other words, under such an amend
ment to the Constitution, If in the
judgment of Congress it becomes ad-
vIsable for the federal government
to supervise the coal industry, for
example, then Congress would have.
the power to enact legislation dealinr
with the subject.
1t is true that such an amendment
to the Constitution would give Con-
gress very broad powers that it does
not now possess. 1t would be a still
further departure from the so-called
states rights idea. But at the same
time 1t might well provide relief for in
justices which cannot now be reached
by the federal government and which
some states do not remedy. The
tendency from the beginning of the
government, however, has been TO
centralize power in the federal gov
ernment. The development has been
gradual but sure along this line.
The people look more and moe today
to Washington for relief from their
troubles, no matter what they are.
Administrations stand or fall in ac-
cordance as they meet the desires ,f
the people for such relief.
Pressure Increasing.
The Constitution, not very long
ago, was amended SO as TO give thu
Congress police powers over the
liquor business and to prohibit the
manufacture and sale of liquor.
Many of the states had enacted pro-
h1bltion laws of their own. But the
pressure the nation over to put an
end to liquor traffic became SO great
that finally the Constitution was
amended and Congress given the
power to deal with it. The pressure
upon the administration and Con-
gress to give the people some relief
from the coal situation is growing
greater all the time.
! But study of the constitutional
powers of the Congress indicates, il
is said, that little real effectual iegiS-
lation can be enacted, for the simple
reason that Congress can deal with
coal only in interstate shipments un-
der the interstate commerce clause
of the Constitution. Most of the
trouble over coal is 5ust in the mining of
it, and in the adjustment of labor
troubles.
One recommendation Of the United
States Coal Commission, however.
which could be handled by Congress
without grant of further authoriEa-
Is that providing for the fullest kind
of publicity relating TO the coal
business, it is said Such a measure
undoubtedly would be beneficial. But
the coal problem is serious enougl,
to warrant additional powers in the
hands of the government.
a broad constitutional amendmc:,t
giving the federal government ad-
ditional police powers in the states
all over the United States-would
meet with strenuous opposition from
the south. where the ghost. of the
so-called force bill has never yet
been laid. To what extent the
southern members of the Senate
might go was demonstrated in the
filibuster last Congress against the
Dyer anti-lynching bill, when tha
most scientifically organized opposi-
tion ever seen in the Senate pre-
vented any business whatever from
being transacted day after day.