Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-08-15
ACRUCIA[ TEST
CASE IS FACING
INDUSTRY COURT
HoWat DefieS the Tribunal
to Participate in the For
nation of a New Wage
Contract Next April.
tBy The Associated press.l

Topeka, Kans., Aug. LITTLE
Kansas court of industrial relations
may meet its most vital test next
April when the preser wage con-
tract between the coal operators
and the miners union expires.
Members of the court are agreed
as to the importance of he situa-
ton.
Alexander Howat. president of
the Kansas miners union, has
seen the handwriting on the wal"
declared w. l.. Higgins. presiding
Judge OF the court. "In speeches
which he is now delivering in all
the principal cities of the state,
Howat defies the court to partici-
pate in formulation of the new
contract, He knows II the indus
trial court is able to dictate the
terms Of the contract which affects
some 10000 Kansas miners, that a
profound impression will be Gre
ated in the minds of all employers
and employees in the states essen
tial industries under jurisdiction OF
the court"
Contract Now in Effect.
The contract now in effect was
entered into through the aid of the
federal coal commission. There
fore 1t has the approval of the ma
tlonal government and can not be
interfered with by the industrial
court. The court has declared that
the present scale of wages is too
high in many instances. Common
laborers, for example, receive $3.50
for an eight-hour day. The court
has also reported that present min
ing methods are wasteful. Blast
ing with dynamite with production
of a large percentage of slack Is
especially condemned.
"If the court of industrial rela-
lions should attempt to take any
action looking toward a modifica-
ton of the contract in the protec-
ton of the general public. judging
from experience, we may expect the
miners organization will bitterly
resent it and refuse to work, said
Judge Huggins. I'VE might be
threatened with a condition SINH
lar to that which existed in No
yember and December, 1919. or
course, I hope nothing of the kind
will occur, but it is q probability
which we ought to face frankly
and for which we should prepare.
Several Ways Provided.
Several ways are provided by the
Industrial law in which the court
NAV participate in negotiation of
the new contract. Declaring that
a wage controversy exists which
may endanger the continuity and
efficiency of the production OF
coal and which may produce In
dustrial strife, disorder or waste
and thereby endanger the public
peace or threaten the public
health, the court may on Its own
initiative demand that the opera
tors and miners submit their con-
tract for approval and modifica-
tion.
The court may likewise take
hand In settlement of the contro-
yersy upon complaint of either
party, or upon complaint of any
ten citizen taxpayers of the com
munity. or upon complaint OF the
attorney general. -,
The Industrial court has always
been intimately associated with the
coal industry because 1t was ere
ated directly as the result of long
series of strikes in the Kansas coal
fields which ended with a near
famine of coal in the early winter
of 1880 and operation of the
mines by volunteers under a state
receivership. The court was estab-
lished by special session of the
legislature to provide a permanent
tribunal where industrial disputes
may be settled without strikes.