301 



gage program of applied research was a proper function for the 

 Bureau. (See page 297.) 



An alternative proposal was offered, for an entirely new and inde- 

 pendent agency, in the hearings. In a prepared statement, the National 

 Coal Association suggested that there be estal:»lished a "Coal Research 

 Foundation" to make contracts, grants, and loans to encourage the 

 development and exercise of a strong research capability in science and 

 tecluiology related to coal. 



Findings of the special subcommittee on coal research 



The subcommittee findings and recommendations were published 

 as a Report of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the 

 House of Representatives, August 27, 1957. The report adopted, with 

 some modifications, the recommendations of the National Coal Associa- 

 tion for an independent Coal Research and Development Commission. 

 It would have three members appointed by the President. The level of 

 effort in the first year should not exceed $2 million, and funding there- 

 after should be based on the recommendations of the Commission. It 

 should have advisory committees relating to major elements of the coal 

 industry and markets (11 were suggested). It should be authorized 

 to place contracts with public agencies, or private organizations, 

 profitmaking or not for profit. It should develop a technical informa- 

 tion system for coal research reports. It might conduct research itself 

 in its own laboratories in the event no other agency was prepared to 

 undertake it. Its program should be broad-gaged research, designed 

 but not limited to — 



( 1 ) develop new and more effective uses for coal, 



(2) improve and expand existing uses, 



( 3 ) reduce the cost of coal production and distribution, 



(4) emphasize those uses and developments of particular value 

 to smaller coal producers.^* 



In its concluding paragraphs, the subcommittee's report summed up 

 the findings on which these recommendations were based. Coal research 

 in the United States was at an inadequate level, and the industry was 

 unable to better this situation. The Bureau of Mines "as a matter of 

 policy, does not concentrate its coal research activities on efforts to 

 solve the short-range problems of the industry." Short-range research 

 could be expected to produce "highly beneficial" results. The U.S. 

 economy and national security would be enhanced. Such a program 

 would be in the national interest. However, such a program "should be 

 administered by an independent Federal agency which must not be 

 shackled and inhibited by such traditional approaches and restrictive 

 policies as control the research activities of the Department of the 

 Interior." ^^ 



III. Subsequent History of the Coal Research Program 



The recommendations of the Special Subcommittee on Coal Research 

 were not acted upon in either House of Congress in 1957. In 1958 a 

 bill (S. 4248) providing for an independent commission for research 

 and development in coal passed the Senate, August 14, and a 



34 "Findings and Recommendations of the Special Subcommittee on Coal Research, 

 report ♦ * • 1957," op. cit., pp. %-ft. 



35 Ibid., p. 91. 



