Evening star., 1923-01-04
by FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Exactly who 1t is that gouges the
American coal-buying public will be
fully disclosed by the time the
United States Coal Commission. now
winding up it's deliberations in
Washington. has finished Its In
quiry. The so-called 'Tact-fnding"
body created by special act Of Con-
gress will submit its preliminary re-
port to President Harding on Janu-
ary Is. 1t will produce a supple
mentary report about March 10. ana
later in the year, probably in the au-
tumn, the commission will issue a
final report. The latter will put for.
ward definite proposals Of a con-
structive character.
1t can be foreshadowed with some
certainty that if the United states
in the interval has been subjected to
another nationwide coal strike the
commission will recommend stern
measures for avoiding such calami-
ties. Nothing in the form or nation
alization of the coal industry Is like
ly to be urged. Recommendations
rather will call for the establishment
like the railroads and advise con-
gress to place 1t under correspond
ingly strict regulatory system.
Secret Hearings Held.
Much depends on the outcome Of
this weeks soft coal peace confer
ence between operators and miners at
Chicago. The coal commissions ad-
monitory message to the conference
was a gesture the conferees are not
likely to misunderstood.
1t is possible for the present writer
authoritatively to lift the curtain on
the ways and means the coal commits
sion has pursued for getting to the
bottom of the black diamond sitpa-
ton. In many respects their pro-
cedure has been unique In the annals
Of federal inquiries. Hearings have
taken place behind closed doors, but
on that account, the commissioners
believe, have been productive OF far
more real information than would
have been possible at open sessions.
Witnesses have opened their hearts
and their books with uncommon
candor They have been cross-ex-
amined thoroughly, If not ruthlessly.
The atmosphere of a directors meet
ing has prevailed rather than that of
court of inquisition. No shorthand
reports of testimony were taken. Men
were invited to sit down, smoke and
talk. While the commission is en-
powered to put its witnesses under
oath, they have, without exception.
testified in the guise or authorities
anxious to contribute every whit OF
evidence in their possession toward
the solution of a common cause.
Coal Industry Explained.
This has applied to operator and
miner alike. to railroad-carrier
wholesale dealer and -ceal-retailer
In addition to verbal testimony, the
commission has had answers to 5000
Questionairres.
With only one or two exceptions the
| members OF the coal commission ap-
preached their responsible task as
confessed amateurs on intricacies OF
the coal question. More than one OF
them admitted smilingly that they
were not absolutely positive they
knew the difference between, anthra-
cite and bituminous. The commission
| consists of John Hays Hammond
chairman. former Vice President
Thomas r. Marshall, Federal judge
Samuel Alschuler of Illinois, Otis r
Smith of the United States Geologi.
cal survey. Charles P. Neill, former
commissioner of labor: Clark Howell
editor of the Atlanta Constitution
and Edward T. Deyine. sociologist. Ir
order that the entire commission
might brush up on coal matters
Chairman Hammond as a preliminary
step ordained an elementary course In