New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1925-12-29
congress TO Open
INQUIRY ON COAL
Action 10 Follow COoidge'S
Recommendations

washington, Dec, 29--WhnteVer
the outcome Of the negotiations TO
end the hard coal strike, an investi-
CATION viii be begun Immediately
after the holidays by u committee OF
congress with n view to the enact
ment of law providing government
machinery to prevent future fuel
strikes or end them when their con-
tinuance menaces the public health.
While administration advisers are
confident that the strike will be I'D
justed next month and the coal stu
alton relieved early In February,
Representative Parker OF New York,
chairman of tho house committee on
interstate and foreign commerce, an
nouncod that his committee would
undertake an inquiry in the near fu-
ture to determine what may be done
in the form of Il federal law to meet
such an emergency as that present
ed by the existing anthracite suspen-
sion.
I'VE are planning to take up the
coal problem promptly and energeti-
cally, and to give to everybody In
| tercsted a chance to be heard, so
that we can get the most complete
Information upon which to base the
action VIC shall take later" said
Chairman Parker. II am unable as
yet to state who will be called be-
fore the committee or to give any
other details of our plan"
More than 90. bills aimed at pre-
venting or ending fuel strikes or off,
setting their effects are now before
| Mr.. Parker's committee, and all of
them will have consideration.
Special attention will be given to a
bill offered by Representative Tread
way Of Massachusetts, which pro-
vides that when the nations fuel
supply is threatened by a suspen-
sion of mining, the president,
through the secretary Of commerce,
shall have authority to take over
mines and operate them.
This measure was introduced In
accordance with a recommendation
contained In President Coolidgo's an
nual message to congress. Another
bill introduced by Mr.. Treadway
proposes the creation OF a perma-
nent commission that shall keep
track of conditions in the coal fields
and make annual reports to the
president.
Another bill is one introduced Ivy
Representative Black of New York
providing for the creation Of gov
eminent corporation which would
have power to take over the mines
and administer them at any time
that operation under private auspices
was suspended to the disadvantagt
OF the public,
Chairman ParRcs and other mem
bers Of the house committee plan t.
make a special study of the lega
phases of the proOSed legislation.
The fact that the anthracite fields
are located in one state, in the opin
ion Of some lawyers, makes it i'm
practical for congress to pass law
providing for federal intervention
This thought was expressed in tn
debate on the question in the hous
a week or so ago, Chairman Park
or suggesting that the courts nigh
hold that the anthracite business
confined as it is, so far as the actua
work OF mining is concerned. to tn
one state Of Pennsylvania, was pure
" intrastate in character, and sub
ject to control only by state authori
ty.
This point of Wow is diputcd b,
Representative TrcadWay who take
the position that since at least s.
per cent of the hard coal mined il
Pennsylvania is marketed bcyon'
the borders OF that state, the anth
raCitc industry is OF an interStat
character and therefore subject T.
supervision by congress.
The feeling here among thos
familiar with the coal situation l
that the strike will be settled hrfor
the special session of the PcnnSyI
vania legislature CUnvcneS the latte
part Of next month.
The opinion is held here that tn
operators will make every effort I
come to terms with the miners dur
ing the New York negotiations j
view Of the ncarness Of the spcCia
session of the Pennsylvania lcgisIa
ture at which Governor Pinchot ha
threatened to seek legislation maxim
coal a public necessity and putin
it under regulation of the state pub
lie utility commission.
The understanding here is tina
corporation influence in PennsyI
vania is being exerted to bring ahou
a settlement Of the strike so as I
prevent any action by the Pcnnsyl
Vania Legislature.