Evening star., 1925-08-11

Father Gabriel prophesies that the
coming Winter will he cold Presl-
dent Lewis prophesies that II viii oe.
coal-less unless the miners get what
they want from the owners OF tne
mines. President Coolidge ain I
sayin' a word and that emphatically,
but Indications are that plans are
making to anticipate the probable tie
up of the coal supply.
There is no part of legislation al
fecting the general public whlcn ap
pears so lacking as the needed laws
giving the President full power TO pre-
vent public disaster such as always
accompanies a strike in coal produc-
ton and In transportation. The coun-
trv is threatened with both this Fall
a coal strike September ] and a strike
tying up all transportation Novem-
ber l.
The drastic plan of President Roose-
Welt in 1902 TO seize the mines and op-
crate them In defiance of any inJunc-
ton has been held as his rashest
usurpation of power, and such as none
but Roosevelt would ever have dared
TO undertake. Yet the same plan OF
forcible seizure was accepted by PreSi-
dent Wilson and President Harding
and, tentatively. by President Cool
idge. All the Presidents have taken
the attitude, as indicated by President
Harding in 1923. when he appealed TO
both miners and operators to settle
their differences, and added:
Failing in that, the servants of the
American people will be called TO the
task. in the name of American safety
and for the greatest good for all the
people
In 1919 President Wilson wrote 10
the officers of the United Mine Work
ers a warning that he would take
action. backed by force, although
there is no specific legislation giving
the President authority TO fix wages
or adjust terms of labor. He said:
Il can do nothing else than to say
that the law will be enforced, and the
means will be found to protect the in
terests of the Nation in any emer-
gency that may arise out of this un-
happy business
In another letter, addressed to the
Secretary of Labor, President Wilson
said:
The interests of the public are of
such vital importance in connection
with the production of coal that it is
incumbent upon them operators and
miners) to refer the matters In dispute
to board of arbitration and to con-
tinue the operation of the mines pend
ing decision of the board"
X x
President Coolidge's first message
to Congress after the death of Presi-
dent Harding had suddenly lifted him
into the responsibility indicates his
attitude on the whole question::
The cost of coal has become un-
bearably high. 1t places a great
burden on our industrial and domes-
dannEff0 In or 70 ra
ply ought not to be tolerated. Those
responsible for the conditions in this
industry should undertake its reform
and free it from any charge of prof
iteerinE
II do not favor Government own.
ership or operation of mines.
The Federal Government probably
has no peace-time authority to regu-
late wages, prices or profits at the
ascertaining and publishing facts, 1t
can exercise great influence. ."
President Coolidge urged in that
message that the President should
have authority to appoint ccmnnis-
sion empowered to deal with what
ever emergency might arise
and by controlling distribution TO
prevent profiteering in the vital
necessity
But Congress failed to act upon his
Recommendation. The President has
no statutory power. Just what are
the limits Of the power of the Execu-
tive depends upon whether the Presi-
dent construes his authority as only
that which Is specifically given him
In the words of the Constitution, or
the Rooseveltian construction that he
has all power for the public welfare
not specifically limited or restricted
by the Constitution. To the legalistic
mind his hands are tied by inaction
of the Constitution, while to the
extra,legal minds the end justifies the
lmeans so long as there 10 no thou