Evening star., 1923-08-26
COAL BOARD POWER
INCREASE IS URGED
Hammond and Associates
Ready to Act, But Ham,
pered by Congress Limits.

A fight is to be made in the coming
session Of Congress for the appoint
ment of permanent federal coal
commission with powers far greater
and wider than those which were
conferred upon the temporary COM
mission which has been endeavoring e
TO deal effectively with the present
threa tening coal situation in the
country.
There also will be agitation in the
Congress for federal oil commits
sion. Several senators and repre-
sentativeS already have expressed
themselves as being convinced by the
recent anthracite negotiations that
some sort of federal control must be
exercised over such natural COM
modities as coal and OIL whicl, enter
SO completely into the industry of
the country and affect so deeply the
physical comfort and we'll being of
the people.
There is a feeling here that for the
general public. which is sure to be
the sufferer in prolonged strike in
the anthracite and possibly in the
hituminouS fields, ii is great pity
that the United States coal commits =
sion. under the Craftsmanship of John
Hays Hammond. was not given wider
powers by the Congress which created
It,
Powers Limited.
But evidently Congress did not ex-
pect another crisis soon. Either
that or the appointment of the COM
mission was merely political sop
10 the people who suffered so keenly
i'll the eastern and northern dis
tricts last winter. II has done
splendid work within its limitations.
Its disposition is 70 go further. but
already there are STRINGS in politi-
cal circles lest fiat judgment pro-
noun by the commission might have
some deleterious effects upon various
federal office holders
The commission would go far il it
could, for it's chairman is indeed a
first-class fighting man. Wherever
treasure is taken from the ground
the name of John Hays Hammond is
known. He is known as the man who
commanded the greatest annual sal
airy ever given a consulting engineer
He is known as the man who once
paid the greatest fine ever assessed
against an individual. He is known
As one OF the ranking geologists of
the world-a fellow of the leading
scientific societies OF this country and
Of Europe. And withal the most
modest little man that could be met
in a journey of many days. Wrapped
within him are experiences and ad-
ventures that would have made full
lives for half dozen venturesome
souls. For some time he has been
tUuedNOTlUB 10 set THESE III GO
down on paper. not for boast or gain.
but for circulation among the friends
who have demanded that he give them
at least. II not the world at large. the
story Of his life.
II was with the Guggenheims Of
Colorado. at the height of their min
ing success. that Mr. Hammond got
the tremendous salary reported TO be
$500, 900 a Year.
1t was in South Africa that he paid
the record breaking fine. a tidy little
sum. just sl25.000. And Mr. HAM
mond thought it a great bargain. He
insists most any one would think SO.
for his first sentence was to be shot.
This rather harsh condemnation later
was commuted to fifteen years i'm
prisonment. Still Mr.. Hammond
thought there was more TO be made
outside stockade walls than in. and
when the South African authorities
agreed to take twenty-five thousand
pounds sterling and call il quits. Mr..
Hammond handed over the cash-and
has been at liberty ever since.
1t was in 1898 that Mr.. Hammond
went TO South Africa and became