Evening star., 1923-09-21
Ultimate Control of Coal
by Congress Seen by Editors

Despite the fact that the anthracite
miners have gone back to work the
coal situation continues the chief
topic of editorial comment. There
is decided growing feeling that it
will not be. settled until Congress
takes such action as will prevent
tie-ups in the future. The demand for
legislation, voiced now for more than
year, is taking on most insistant form.
incidentally the Pinchot appeal for
action against gouging and the latest
report of the Federal Coal Commits
sion are held to prove beyond ques-
tion that only Congress can find the
remedy for existing abuses
Within the field of principles laid
down by the commission the BaIti-
more Sun holds, there is obviously
an area in which the particular rights
Of organized labor and organized
they cannot reconcile their differ
ences through their own machinery;
If industry cannot solve it's own prob
lens amicabiy, the Congress of the
United States must intervene"
That likewise is the view of the
Albanay knickerbocker Press, which,
however, replying to suggestions
that much of the action. demanded
acter. insists mine owners, mine
operators and miners need fear no
radical action by the public if
decent regard for the public interest
as the New York Post points out,
the experienced consumer will not
expect much from Gov. Pinchot's
efforts to see that somebody else
The consumer has won a two-year
breathing spell. The Coal Commission
suggests a basis for better conditions.
Finally the consumer should resort
to little self-heip by giving atten.
tion to the possibilities of consumers
cooperative buying associations. If
organization is an advantage TO the
miner and the operator, as 1t plain
ly is, it would be an advantage to the
man for whom both miner and
operator Is working"
The present arrangement, the Phil
adelphia Bulletin insists, lis plainly
max eshift," and action must be taken
so that the public. .'as a paramount
party shall have a voice which must
be heard and respected"
"The public" goes on the Rochester
Times Union, "is simply called on to
deliver, or go without coal" because,
as the Buffalo News continues, peace
has not come to the industry. Two
years hence there will be another
upheaval, unless Congress declares
the public directly in interest-un-
less it takes action to bring the in
dustry under a fair measure Of
government control"
In connection with the debate
which has been in progress ever
since the strike was settled the
Omaha World Herald wonders why
president Coolidge passed up the
honor to Gov. Pinchot and whe ther
it was done on purpose?' The World
Herald also insists, despite the sup
Elemental reports, that all the is-
ures gathered by the Coal Commission
went for naught." J,
Obiecting TO. this thought, the Gin
cinnati Times Star insists "it is only
In it's recommendation that the C0aI
Commission is haZy. Or ratner It's
report so generalizes as 70 ran 70
have imm ediate applicability. Inc Inc
to revolutionize the coal lndustry OF
any other. But 1T represents slnGeEe
and calm consloeratlon.
In retrospect it may become one Oh @ liIe
significant economic documents OF our @
time" Because "in this settlement the
miners gain a little, the operators
lose nothing and the public stanas
the cost" the Albany News insists
"some way must be found TO pul thS
coal business on a basis OF HARNESS.
X X \
The Duluth Herald warmly indorses
the Pinchot declaration that ut is
time to be giving official attention to
the retail price of hard coal The
coal -carrying. raj lroads are very pros
porous The e5ownershfp OF these
roads and the ownership OF the marc
coal mines are still pretty mucn .he
| same. 1t will be surprising If the
ss