Evening star., 1923-11-19

The coal situation is not to be per-
mitted to drop out of sight. The
federal fact finding commission has
passed from the stage. But It's con-
clusions in the form of various re-
ports are very much alive. Gov.
Clifford Pinchot and his associated
executives are going to take another
shot at the coal profiteers. And
Congress is in the offing, just few
days away, ready to open up anew
the entire question. It is hardly TO
be wondered at, then. that editors find
the subject of coal one Of the most
Important for discussion at the pres
ent moment. AS the New York Herald
puts it, 'for the first time in its
history the United States government
possesses a mine Of information upon
coal 1t also has the suggestions of
competent men upon how to set up
an umpire and create judicial ma
chinery which will prevent operators
and miners from rushing recklessly
into a conflict costly to the country
at large. The coal commission has gone
it's way, but Congress inherits both
the results Of its labors and the re-
sponsibility for taking action in time
Insisting that mo apology is neces-
gary for renewed newspaper refer
ences to coal and coal prices, the
Syracuse Herald discusses at some
length the greed in coal distribu-
ton" as shown by the report on whole
salers' profits, and the costly methods of
distribution, and insists that "if Con-
gress has power to regulate coal distri-
button in time of emergency, it has
power to do so at all times. Preven-
tive legislation adopted by Congress
should not only be comprehensive but
continuous In its terms. One of the
first obligations of Congress at its
approaching session will be to deal
sweepingly as the Constitution will
permit with the coal problem. And
there should be no butts, or ifs i'll
its new code of statutory regulation
and repression"
Directing attention to the drop in
prices of bituminous coal due TO
',ample production and a slow de
mand," the Indianapolis News holds
his ought not to influence Congress,
because. even if prices should con-
tinue to fall, Congress must not be
permitted to forget inherent evils in
the coal industry and the Importance
of action concerning them"
4. * r
Incidentally, the Trenton Times
directs attention to the statement OF
Gov Silzer that the Pennsylvania coal
tax costs neighboring consuming
states from four to five million dol
lars annually. and insists GOV.
Pinchot, despite his howls as a great
reformer, seems to be perfectly will
ing to add to the burdens of the coal
consumer and Gov Silzer can render
no finer service than by continuing to
show UP the graft"
The Atlanta Journal is fully con-
yinced that private control in TINS
basic industry must be mended or II
will be ended regardless of political
theory. The economic and the human
interests at stake are so vast, SO
them forever to be victims OF inefh-
cheney and profitee ring" 1t should De
! remembered the Saginaw News
Courier holds, that 'any change would
be Welcomed but that newspaper
feels 'there Is no great hope that any
effectiye relief can be expected from
Congress- While there are, OF
course, too many middlemen. the
Birmingham News is not impressed
by the profit-finding facts OF the ieu-
eral commission, characterizinE them
as "all very interesting ana the uh-
lucky consumer has sensed that some
body somewhere along the line mas
been getting fat profits; but sharpiy
demanding what are we going 10 DO
about itT Referring to. the man~er
in which Judge Crawford of e
kansas Industrial court kept pri' IS
down through slashing profits ot
middlemen and saving the peop.e
OF Kansas thousands OF dollars In
] the Wichita Beacon holds 'the re-