The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-01-19
WHAT Is GIVEN
FORTH IN STORY
Federal Commission Report
To Congress Today
=
CAUSES ARE CITED
Special Body Six Was Created
After Strike In 1892 To
Size Up Problems.
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch.l

Washington, d. c., January 25.-
instability in bituminous coal min.
ing industry is the fundamental
cause of high prices and the fuel
shortage which has menaced the
American public repeatedly in re-
cent years, the United States coal
commission he'd today, in pre-
liminary report of its finding in
vestigation laid before congress.
Labor troubles, transportation
OF the industry in mines and man
power to a point where it is much
larger than necessary to supply
public demand for its product-it
operations were continuous-Were
all three assigned as among PPi
mary, causes for the condition. The
exact bearing which these nave up.
on the existing situation, the COM
nilsson said, it intended to study in
its further inquiry.
Regarding the possibility OF an
other general coal strike after
April !, the report said the commits
sion has reason to believe that an
agreement will be reached in the
near future that will avert any
wide spread cessation Of mine oper
atoms in union fields on April l."
The commission added that its
work in promoting industrial peace
, by ascertaining and publishing re.
liable data on wages, earnings, en-
p!oyment volume, profits and costs
Involved in coal production VIII
:oceed with that understanding.
Reference was made to the exchange
of communications between the com
mission, miners union officials, and
repres entatives OF operators which
has lessened the danger Of the
strike prospect
Six Signed Report
Six members OF the commission,
John Hays Hammond, chairman;
DR.. George Otis Smith, formerly d.
rector of the Geological Survey;
Clark Howell, ejitor OF the Atlanta
Constitution: former Vice Presi-
dent Marshall Charles P. Neil; and
DR.. Edward T. Devine, signed the
report as rendered, while Federal
Judge Alschuler, whose judicial
formally for service as commission
er, attached a memorandum ap-
proving the views of his colleagues.
The commission was created by
congress after the 1922 coal strike
to investigate the entire coal pro-
blem
There have been so many and
such complex factors\ operating in
the coal industry to prevent the free
play of economic forces, the re-
port said in concluding" that a very
detailed and comprehensive investi-
cation is required before a valid
conclusion can be reached. The in
Quiry involves the whole question
as TO what is best for the people,
problem is of so great moment, with
free competition, government Eor
private ownership, regulation or
control in the coal industry. The
reference not only TO the theories
of government but also TO the econ
view of the commission must be
left to its final report.
No Wage Rates Agreement
There can be no satisfactory
agreement as TO wage rates, and no
lasting peace between operators and
men unless steadier employment can
be provided There can be no salts :
factory solution OF our transporta
ton problem so long as the rail
roads are subjected to sudden peak
loads of coal traffic at the season
when the demands OF agriculture
and industry are at their hai"ht.
THE commission believes that the
public interest in coal raises funda-
mental questions Of the relation Of
this industry to the nation, and OF
the degree to which private rights
must yield TO public welfare. 1t may
be both private property in an e1
haustible resource and labor in a
public service industry must submit
to certain notifications OF their pri-
vate right, receiving in return GER
tain guarantees and privileges not
accorded to purely private business
or persons in private employ"
. With anthracite coal problems, the
". Search would continue, it was
said, into the reasons which left the
United States, though rich beyond
all other nations in its wealth o.
coal resources with "a national Goa
bin too often depleted" with prices
higher than seem warranted by the
wealth of, coal available" and with
general public concern and dissatis
faction as to fuel supply.
Profiteering In Industry
There has been profiteering in
the industry in the sense that gross.
ly exorbitant profits have been TAX
en- at times by many operators
brokers', and retailers; profits that
nave " Ink
cost of the COAL" the report said in
part, but this commission has moi
yet obtainable the figures 5pecifical
ly required by the act in order tc
settle this question. A thorough
examination Of profits. is already
under way"
Run away markets for coal u
1920 and 1922, the commission con
tinued, followed prolonged cessation
of mining operations due to dis
agreement between employers anC
employees. but high prices also ruled
from August, 1916 to March, 1918
and for that period Some other ca.
planation of the high prices and dis
tress must be found" .s.
"The responsibility of settling
disputes,' the report remarked as Il
the present labor situation, rest
prim arily supon the industry The
comissiou therefore warned miners
and operators alike that the country
looks to them to settle their OWE
disuqltes and to reach an amicablt
agreement when the present con.
tract expires"
Work For Future
In the future, it was added, the
commission would go into causes o
tbe disruption Of industrial relations
that has so frequently hampered the