Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-25
Coal Producers Are Believed
Near Solution of Troubles

Suggestions that operators Of bitsInai-
nous mines would look with favor upon
Government regulation of coal produc-
ton are accepted by the country as a
decided advance In the direction of the
solution Of the problems involved. al
though there is still much opposition
to Government participation in private
business: The goal that has been
sought for some years is declared to be
In the direction OF conservation. The
fact that coal Is a natural resource of
limited supply Is held TO be factor In
the proposed Government action.
Those in touch with the situation in
the soft-coal fields of West Virginia
and Pennsylvania believe that the Fed
eral Government can take steps to Gre
ate better market for coal, helping
not only the operators but the workers.
who are now underpaid." states the
Morgantown Dominion News, while the
Wheeling Intelligeneer says Of the din
culties in the way: CAS- serious as pres
ent-day conditions are in the coal mine,
on the farm and In the factory, their
correction must be left TO the operation
of natural economic forces. Artificial
stimulants are as dangerous in dealing
with economic Ills as In treating human
ailments"
Endorsement by the Executive Coun-
of a joint conference of miners and
operators is pointed out by the Pitts
burgh Post Gazette as q reminder that
something will have to be done" That
paper sees growing momentum behind
the public demand that the coal in
dustry come out Of its coma" and says
further: 1.-THE American coal industry
will ind an interesting parallel to its
present cropping toward reorganization
in Great Britain. where plan sponsor
ed by Sir Ernest Cover Is now under
consideration. Faced by some Of the
same conditions that have threatened
many companies with bankruptcy and
brought hardship and distress to the
men and their families, the Cover plan
calls for the compression Of 1000 indi-
vidual companies into six, central di-
rectorate in each unit TO control pro-
duction, sales and transportation. Self
preservation demands steps in the same
direction in this country"
Great Britain has had more acute
coal issue than the United States, fol-
Topeka Daily Capital, land has pro-
crossed towards government regula-
ton for 10 years. the latest act OF
Parliament having been passed last
year in the British Coal Mines Act and
is being put INTO effect 1t creates a
national board and likes uniform
working day. regulates prices and APP
portions production among the various
companies. This may be the solution
of the coal troubles in the United
States. Naturalization Of coal mines
is no unlikely outcome Of the complete
liberalization Of this basic American
Z. !. 1stry."
~ is a pitiful situation in which no
suggestions for solicitations thus far
made have aroused popular following, .
thinks the Columbus Ohio State Jour
nal, while the Uniontown Herald, hold
ing that the industry itself has reduced
production cost declares that "all of
these competitive factors are nullified
by an inequitable system Of freight rate
costs" The Harrisburg Telegraph
questions the value OF Federal control
with the statement: THE refusal of
the Senate to confirm Cyrus Woods as