Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1923-12-12

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posals should be one of generosity.
But | do not favor the granting OF a.
bonus
COAL.
The cost of coal has become I'M
bearably high. 1t places a great .
burden on our industrial and domes-
tic life. The public welfare requires
a reduction in the price of fuel. With
the enormous deposits in existence
failure of supply ought not to be-
tolerated. Those responsible for the.
conditions in this industry should
undertake it's reform and free it
from any charge of profiteering.
The report of the coal commission
will be before the Congress. 1t COM
prises all the facts 1t represents
the mature deliberations and con-
illusions of the best talent and eX-
perience that ever made a national
survey of the production and dis
tribution of fuel. l do not favor
government ownership or operation
of coal mines. The need is for action
under private ownership that will
secure greater continuity of produc
ton and greater public protection.
The federal government probably
has no peace-time authority to regu-
late wages, prices, or profits in coal
at the mines or among dealers, but
by ascertaining and publishing facts
it can exercise great influence.
The source of the difficulty in the
bituminous coal fields is the inter-
mttence of operation which causes
great waste of both capital and labor.
That part of the report dealing with
this problem has much significance,
and is suggestive of necessary
remedies. By amending the car
rules, by encouraging greater unity
of ownership, and possibly by per-
hitting common selling agents for
limited districts on condition that
they accept adequate regulations and
guarantee that competition between
districts be unlimited, distribution,
storage, and continuity ought to be
improved.
The supply of coal must be con-
slant. In case of its prospective in
terruption, the President should
have authority to appoint a COM
mission empowered to deal with
whatever emergency situation might
arise, to aid Cancellation and volun-
tary arbitration, to adjust any exist
ing or threatened controversy be-
tween the employer and the en-
ployee when collective bargaining
fails, and by controlling distribution
to prevent profteering i'll this vital
necessity. This legislation is ex-
ceedingly urgent, and essential to the
exercise of national authority for the
protection of the people. Those who
undertake the responsibility of man
agement or employment in this in
dustry do so with the full knowledge
that the public interest is para
mount. and that to fail through any
motive of selfishness in it's service
is such a betrayal of duty as war
rants uncompromising action by the
government.
WORLD COURT.
Our foreign policy has always been
guided by two principles. The one
is the avoidance of permanent politi-
cal alliances which would sacrifice
our proper independence. The other
is the peaceful settlement of con-
troversies between nations. By
example and by treaty we have ad-
vocated arbitration. For nearly
twenty-five years we have been
member of the Hague Tribunal, and
have long sought the creation of a
permanent World Court of Justice. l
am in full accord with both of these
policies. | favor the establishment
of such a court intended to include
the whole world. That is, and has
long been, an American policy.
Pending before the Senate is
proposal that this Government give
it's support to the Permanent Court
of International Justice, which is a
new and somewhat different plan.
This is not partisan question. 1t
should not assume an artificial i'm
portance. The court is merely a
convenient instrument of adjustment
to which we could go, but to which
we could not be brought. 1t should
be discussed with entire candor, not
by political but by a judicial
method, without pressure and with
out prejudice. Partisanship has no
place in our foreign relations. AS I
wish to see court established, and
as the proposal presents the only
practical plan on which many
nations have ever agreed though it
may not meet every desire, I there
fore commend it to the favorable
consideration of the Senate, with the
proposed reservations clearly indi-
eating our refusal to adhere to the
League of Nations.