The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-09-10
Ma T-|ONAL
PROBLEM
SEEN
Pennsylvania Governor Be-
lieves 1t Federal Duty to
Check Profitesrs.

The hard coal situation has been
returned to the national admins
tration. Governor Pinchot, OF
Pennsylvania, has passed the
buck" back to Washington after
staving off a strike.
This was the opinion in official
circles today, following receipt at
the White House Of the Governors
letter to the President charging
the Federal Government with the
responsibility of seeing that the
public is not gouged by the OPP
orators in the matter OF increased
coal prices.
Speedy Action Expected.
Just what action President Cool
idge will take on the numerous sug-
gestions of the Pennsylvania execu-
tive is not known.
The Interstate Commerce Com
mission, however, at present is en-
gagged in a study OF anthracite
freight rates with a view to their
~
unlikely that the rate-rnaking body
will speed up its findings and re-
duce the burden on the mine
owners.
Coincident with receipt Of the
Pinchot suggestions, the United
States Coal Commission made pub
lie it's report to the President on
conditions in the coal industry.
The commission urged the Presi-
dent to go before Congress and seek
legislation establishing a fixed code
for the settlement Of all miner
operator disputes.
Public interest and need Of a
continuous supply OF coal makes it
workers alike make some personal
sacrifices in the interest of the
common veal" it was stated.
President Coolidge was warned
that "the legislative, judicial and
executive branches Of the Govern
ment must not permit a union of
operators, a union of miners, nor a
union of both, to become greater
than the Union Of the States
Attacked by Unions.
This report Immediately drew
vigorous attack from the United
Mine Workers of America. Declar-
ing it's recommendations to SAVIOR
of arbitration-a thing which the
unions will not submit to-the
workers organization further stated
the commissions findings read very
much like "a well-prepared brief in
behalf Of the nonunion bituminous
coal operators of West Virginia and
northeastern Kentucky"
Likewise, 1t is considered prob
no
Commission will follow out the Pin
chot suggestion and make publ.
its findings on profits and costs in
mine operations and in wholesale
and retail distribution.
Such a move, according to Gov
ernor Pinchot's letter, would be of
the greatest value in making plans
TO protect the public interests"
The Governor reiterated in his
letter the opinion that hard coal
should not be increased more than
sixty cents a ton as a result Of the
wage increase granted the miners.
and that the operators should alb
sorb ten cents Of this price raise,
leaving the remaining fifty cents
TO be taken up by transportation and
distribution.
The anthracite operators, however,
have been insistent that the 10 per
cent wage increase will add a min.
imum of IS cents a ton to the pub
lie coal bill together with an addi-
tional cents occasioned by the
extra expense to them of granting
the miners an eight-hour day.
They say S32 500, 900 has been sad.
died on the consumer by the Pinchot
strike settlement, and insist that no
absorption is possible between mine
and ultimate consumer.