Evening star., 1926-04-03
]ACOBSTE|NU URGES
COAL BUREAU. HERE
Bill Would Make Public UtiI-
ity OF Fuel, Under Price
Regulation.

Esta blishment OF cOs lcOptroi bu-
reau In Washington. TO be admins
tered under the direction of the Dis
trict Commissioners. which would
have power to regulate distribution
and price Of coal 10 consumers. will he
urged in a measure To he introduced
in the House ny Representative Jscch-
stein. Democrat. Of New York. Mr..
Jacobsiein has been the sole witness
before the House committee on inter
state and foreign commerce inveati-
eating the general coal situation for
the past three days.
The bill. by the New York member
OF the House. now under considera-
tion. would declare coal to he public
utility in the District of columbia.
Its distribution and price from the
time il enters the confines Of the Dis
trict would he regulated under the
measure he proposes Mr.. Jacob
stein considers the District Of Colur'-
bia State in so far as regula tion Of
public utilities Is concerned, and
would place coal on the same bs csc as
electric power. street cars and tele-
phone service
During the great joint strike Of 1922
the District Commissioners ests hliRhed
fair prices for anthra cite coal. and in
1918 District coal administration
John l.. Weaver.
Delayed Hill PmrposeIy.
Mr.. .Iacobetei said he has NOT in
troduced local coal Legislation M :"
this time. because IL might hNfog the
Issue of general coal legislation and
-
House commit ees- one on the local
situa ton before the District commit
tee and the other before the inter
state and foreign commerce commit
tee He has already discussed his
proposed Dist rict coal control bureau
with Sens tors.
Enactment of remedial coal leZisls
tion before adjournment of Congress
ha sed on the recommendations ~ he
President at the opening of the pres
ent session was viewed as unlikely
tOda hy memhsrs ~ The committee
inquiring into the general coal situs
tion. The House plans to adjourn in
The middle OF MAY and the committee
has long Ist of Witnesses IL desires
10 hear before considering any general
legislation More than score OF bills
proposing remedial legislation have
been introduced by the New York dele
CATION alone IN the House 4 nd the to-
tai of bills hearing on coal sGgre-
gales more than 80 The interstate
and foreign commerce committee II
not considering any special bill, hut 10
investigating the entire situation. with
/. vieU 10 possibility Of enactment Of
legislation early in the next session.
Representative RaNburn Democrat.
of TeAas said ne hoped the present
hearing would bring out most of The
essential facts and that the COMMITTEES
could then draw up bill for consider
alton ~ the next session.
Mr. Ra Vburn. member Of the com
mittse. "a id The time before adjourn
ment would proha bly not permit intro
duction of bill for general coal legiS
lation at The present session.
Mr. JscOhst ems proposed District
coal bureau would virtually have
power To regulate dealers margins
and would set up and enforce standard
accounting and COST practices similar
10 those now enforced ny the Inter
stat. Commerce Commission for tho
railroads.
Coal Is in fact public utility"
MIR. Jacobstein declared. Its distr-
button and price should he regulated
exactly as are rail distribution and
rates by the Interstate Commerce
Commission He would SepArAIe his
propo Sed Goa burTsu from the present
Public Utilities Commission. which
- now composed Of the members Of
the Board of Commissioners A bill
IL create a separate Public Utilities
Commission is now before Congress.