Evening star., 1923-10-04
Fail to Find Effective Coal
Supply Remedy in U. S. Report

Although there will be no coal
famine" this year. editors continue
closely to scrutinize the final report
of the Federal Coal Fact-Finding
Commission. Few OF them seem sat-
fsfetl. They incline. for the most
part. TO. believe that specific recon-
mendations which actually would
prevent strikes in the future are con-
spicuous by their absence. So far as
the praoticability of the creation of
any new supervisory agency under
the Interstate Commerce Commission
is concerned. editors seem TO feel 1t
simply would add a little more red
tape to the game of follow the lead
er." while the public would continue
to pay the piper"
The report is conspicuous for its
lack of suggested remedies that
might be reached through legisla-
tion," says the Wilkes-Rarre Record.
The government is limited in what
1t can do by the constitutional bar
against confiscation. 1t has not yet
been fairly successful in its attack
upon monopoly. In his ANALYSIS OF
hindered by his knowledge of the
|impediments that stand In the way of
real relief for the public This is
ha ardly the. opinion of the Pittsburgh
Press. however, which sees in the
series of reports "a real basis given
complicated problem, which was the
purpose behind the creation of the
commission"
X ~ <-s
It is cold coal comfort" as the St.
paul Disno tcI, y;au-s ~ han,uSa tho
commission recommends further ex-
periments and 1.-The publicflacks con-
hdence, as result of experience, in
governmental control and supervision
of industry. The Coal Commissions
lengthy investigation would be no
more profitable than the tabled labor
OF the mountain, were it not for it's
railroad cars be better distributed
among the mines. The consumer gets
no benefit from an abundance Of coal
at the mine mouth. IL he cannot get it
into his own bin without paying un-
just tribute for its transportation"
In addition. the Reading Tribune
points out, "the report, while lengthy.
nevertheless does not make IL alto
gether clear" how the Interstate Com
public. The Supreme Court has ruled
that coal mining is not interstate COM
merce and that the coal industry
should be regulated on this basis.
Undoubtedly the coal boards plan is
a good one IL some legal way may
be discovered to put it into effect"
The Bangor Commercial, though. Is
inclined to believe there is a way to
make the recommendation effective,
because "the power would be given
to the department to be used in case
OF need. The department would have
the facts and the coal concern that is
acting fairly would have nothing to
fear. 1t could ship its coal and do
business. On, the other hand the au-
thority would be at hand to practical
iy put out of business concern that
was failing to- transact business on
proper basis and with due regard 10
the rights of the public, which ap-
pears to be fair enough" -,
X x x
With hard coal selling at SIG ton,
as compared with Sc a short time
ago, the Duluth Herald insists 1T Is
very clear that If there is an indus
try in the country the nature OF which
justifes close government control OF
production, distribution and sale
and IL they will not work then even
government ownership-it is the an