The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-05-29
HURLEY hApS
COAL OPERATORS
Chairman Of Ship Board Says
Mines Must Work Harder.
SEES INEFFICIENT CONTROL
Tells Biturninous Conference Govern.
ment Will Spend Billion to Improve
Transportation and Failure to
Meet Need Will Rest on Them.

Philadelphia, May 29.-The federai
government is going to spend $1,000
100000 To improve railroad facilities
and provide locomotives and cars for
hauling coal
If The mines fail to meet the demand
for fuel it will be up to the mines
and no one else.
This was the combined promise and
warning issued by E. \. Hurley, chair
man of the United States shipping
board before tie National Coal asso-
citation at the Bellevue Stratford hotel.
One statement made by Mr.. Hurley
brought the mine owners, of whom
there were approximately 1900 at the
conference. to Il realization of their
position was the charge that 30 per
cent of the mines in the country are
badly managed. full of inefficleneeS
Of all kinds, and should be corrected
at once if the need, of 700,000,000 tons
of coal is 10 be met
New business methods, new cooper
alton between employer and employe
and creation of schools for training
new superintendent. foremen and
business, to meet military drafts on
labor, all We're urged.
Mr.. Hurley used as a basis of his
advocates. the experiences of the
shipping board in providing the Vast
force of men needed to construct
Shi Of hn hnf
had worked on vessels of any kind.
1.-THE building of ships,--the mining
and distribution of coal, the produc-
ton and conservation OF food products
and other important war necessities
are all vital to the nations needs
during these trying times" said Mr..
Hurley
NO great task can be undertaken,
if quick action is to be obtained, with
out making some mistakes. We may
make mistakes, but we are moving
forward and getting results. We can
not go wrong with the American peo-
pie united and getting results"
He urged the operators to rouse
themselves to new efforts, to take a
fresh view of their industry. and to
''obtain a sufficient production of coal
in spite of all the difficulties that may
beset you"
Labor is playing a greater part in
this war than in any other conflict
-vhich the world has known" declared
Mr. Hurley "And let me say here
that in the United States labor as a
whole is measuring up to its respon-
Sibflity splendidly,' he added.
''On the whole, however, labor as
we'll as capital is not producing that
degree OF efficiency that it should pro-
duce in these trying times. If faulty
management is responsible for 80 per
cent of the inefficiencies in the pro-
huction of coal today, inefficiency on
the part of li..or is responsible for the
other 30 per cent"
Mr.. Hurley said he wished to ex-
press his admiration for the United
Mine Workers of America as a great
labor organization that recognizes the
piecework basis. A law making it
compulsory for a piece-work rate,
once established, to remain in force
for given time. would be helpful tc
labor and industry alike, he said.
Mr. Hurley told the coal operators
that 'if we could develop in year
the building of wooden ships. which
lad been a long-lost art, if our Work.
men in rlany yards have increased in
efficiency more than % per cent in the
last few months, it can be done in
other industries. Where we have eff
cient management we have efficient
workers"