The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-27
SAY men SEEK TO
NATIONALIZE MINES
onerator Charges Extremists
in Union Plan Soviet
System.
WILL ASK 80 HOUR WEEK
Car Shortage Is Laid to Rail-
roads and Hines May BE
Called.
WILL ASK 80 HOUR WEI

v,spfNGroN. Aug. 26.-Entering on
:. ,nvestisation or the increased price
:, .oai n Senate Interstate Commerce
s.h-cormittee to-day brought forth tes-
,,rony that n shortage of cars and
,shor difficulties were hindering coal
seduction. that certain elements in the
miners union were intent on rationale
s,Non of the coal mines with adoption
~ six hour day and five day week
sirs a wage increase and that unless
rrOhlems OF production were solved the
country would be brought face to face
With coal famine in the coming winter.
60 emphatic were the witnesses that
,hs railroads were at the bottom of the
nr,sent low production that Senator
Frellnghuvsen IN. j., chairman OF
me committee indicated the committees
in,sntion Of bringing Director-General
AZ Railroads Hines into the hearing.
Naturalization Bill Ready.
After detailing the effects of labor
Af1cuties and alleged car shortage on
,oal production. Harry N. TAYLOR. pres
dent of the National Coal Association.
An organization of operators declared
4 bin had been prepared for submission
10 Congress providing for the nation
allzation OF the mines He added that
what the miners wanted was not only
hat the Government should own the
rroperties but that the mines should be
! iurned over to them for operation. He
assisted that the more radical of the
miners appeared to be gaining control
N tertaln districts and that there was
.srious danger that these elements
would make an earnest effort for the
institution of something approaching
Soviet methods in conducting the prop
/ critics.
Fear was expressed by Mr.. Taylor
/ that at the miners convention Septem-
/ her s in Cleveland and at the joint con-
ference OF miners and operators in Ruff
tslo. September %, action might be
taken to endanger production further.
He told the committee that the strikes
m Illinois. Kansas and Missouri were
IN violation of the Washington agree
ment, which provided for the contin-
nous operation of the mines until peace
definitely is established. The conduct
Of the strikes in the middle West, he
aId was In many cases influenced by
radical elements. He said 1t was known
renera!ly in the industry that an at
tempt would be made at the Cleveland
meeting to put through a naturalization
programme, Will d Sin muir Jay, u i've
day week and an increase in wages.
Discussing the strike in Kansas, he
said the men under the leadership of
Alexander Howatt. president of the
union in the Kansas district, were work
ing on the principle that a man should
be paid whether he was employed or
not The strike in Missouri, he said.
was called in sympathy with that in
Kansas, and the methods employed were
"as radical or more SO than in Kansas"
A man picking slate is now paid SIS at
many mines, Mr.. Taylor said. while It Is
common for a miner to make SIS a
day, All nationalities are represented
In the mines, he said, many of them
good Americans"
Says U. $. Forces Prices Down.
Aside from "a labor combine to force
up the cost Of production" Mr. Taylor
said, the operators face a buying COM
/bine to force down prices" THAT buy
ing combine" he explained, lis the
United States Railroad Administration
Which takes about 30 per cent. of the
output 1t is backed by-is in effect, a
part of-the United States Government
The coal operator would be put in
jail If he combined to keep up prices,
Out the United States Government
through the Railway Administration, L
not prohibited from forming a buying
combination TO put up costs.
The prices paid by the Railroad Ad
mlnistration are very much below the
prices fixed as fair by the Fuel Ad
mmistration, and in some cases are be.
low cost"
The possible conversion of the Goa
price hearing INTO an investigation OF
The efficiency of the Railroad Admins
ration was indicated during the testi
mony Of John Callahan, traffic di
rector OF the Goa, Association. Both Mr.
CaHaha9 and ]. D. Morrow, vice-presi.
dent OF the association, had supple.
mented the statements of Mr.. Taylor
that car shortage was the most i'm.
portant single factor in delaying de-
livery.
Senator Frelinghuysen asked Mr. Cal
anan If he would obtain for him certain
specific Information regarding idle cars
ana other features of operation, adding
that he wanted that information in order
70 question Director-General Hines.