The report of the Coal Commission will be before the Congress.  It comprises all the facts.  It represents the mature deliberations and conclusions of the best talent and experience that ever made a national survey of the production and distribution of fuel.  I do not favor Government ownership or operation of coal mines.  The need is for action under private ownership that will secure greater continuity of production and greater public protection.  The Federal Government probably has no peacetime authority to regulate 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 intermittence 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 permitting 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 constant.  In case of its prospective interruption, the President should have authority to appoint a commission empowered to deal with whatever emergency situation might arise, to aid conciliation and voluntary arbitration, to adjust any existing or threatened controversy between the employer and the employee when collective bargaining fails, and by controlling distribution to prevent profiteering in this vital necessity.  This legislation is exceedingly urgent, and essential to the exercise of national authority for the protection of the people.  Those who undertake the responsibility of management or employment in this industry do so with the full knowledge that the public interest is paramount, and that to fail through any motive of selfishness in its service is such a betrayal of duty as warrants uncompromising action by the Government.

REORGANIZATION

A special joint committee has been appointed to work out a plan for a reorganization of the different departments and bureaus of the Government more scientific and economical than the present system.  With the exception of the consolidation of the War and Navy Departments and some minor details, the plan has the general sanction of the President and the Cabinet.  It is important that reorganization be enacted into law at the present session.

AGRICULTURE