The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-03-30
Labor Tribunal Expected To
Act Late This Afternoon.
Head of Operators Assn Wiz
Make Concession.
MAY OUTLINE A WORKING PLAN
Kansas Towns Have Sixty-Day
Fuel Supply Now.
Three Union Officials Refuse
to Answer Summons.

An order viii be issued by the IN
dustrial court late today providing
some sort OF working contract under
which efforts will be made TO keep
Kansas coal mines open Ira Glenn
ents, president of the Southwestern
Interstate Coal Operators association,
told the labor court today that op-
orators would make a reasonable tenn
porary concession in order to insure
operation. Union officials will define
their position during the afternoon
session
Efforts to secure permission from
the International Mine Workers union
Kansas were being made by the indus
trial court today. In event this con-
ccssion is not made the court Will out
line temporary wage and working
plan for members of the union in the
Kansas fields. This contract viii af-
feet workers in District No IA IN
Craw.ord and Cherokee counties and
District IS in Leavenworth county.
Sixty-Day Supply On Hand
Testimony before the court today
showed fuel supplies in Kansas towns
equal to an average of about sixty
days demand. Most of the state insti-
tu5ions have coal supplies or fuel oil
contracts which will care for them
until July or September
" F. Wilkerson. secretary OF the IN :
duSt rial court. produced a number of
reports covering fuel survey made in
the last few days. His records
showed most of the Topeka yards had
supplies equal to demands for sixty to
ninety days.
Representatives of the operators and
miners union went rather gingerly into
today's hearing They recorded ap-
pearance. but were slow to concede
m
Union Heads Refuse To Appear
Three officials of the mine workers
union refused to obey summons TO ap-
pear as witnesses. They were Viii
liam Howc. secretary OF District lA'
Charles Rumetsc'l and Charles Swi-
CART. followers Of Alexander Howat.
The sher.frs office i'm Crawford
county sent returns showing summons
had been served.
Ira Clements was on the witness
stand during most of the morning
session. He told of procedures fol-
lowed in making new wage contracts
and asserted that 50 far as he knew
operation would cease at midnight
Friday.
Ira Clements TcstIfies.
will You blow whistles as usual
Friday IN order 10 give the men
chance To go to work. - asked Presid-
ing Judge Huggins-
I'VE haven't decided whether we
Tie witness said the expiring wage
contract was made in 1916. Il was
continued from time to time, he said.
under government regulations. He
said efforts to make a new contract
for the central competitive field
which would affect Kansas mines had
failed and that a general strike now
iHpended-
Production at this time is about so
per cent efficient, Clements testified
He also asserted that methods OF the
miners in using excessive charges of
dynamite AMI powder resulted in pro-
iuction of so per cent slack. This sit
uation increased cost to consumers of
domestic coal.
Can't Manage Properties.
why don't you stop this waste -
asked Judge Higgins
We would if We could manage our
properties"
DO you mean that you own these
properties and can't control the man
ner of producing coai2
Yes"
Why
when we complain we can sus-
pend a man five days. The matter
then goes to the pit committee which
never has hearing and the man goes
back to work. If we took arbitrary
action the men would strike"
Gould you reduce the amount or
sack under a new contract?"
Gradually, but not at once"
1,400 Non-Union Workers.
Clements said there were probably
J .400 non-union men working in Kan
sas mines as against 1000 union
workers. He said the wage under
the expiring contract is $3.50 for an
eight-hour day He estimated eff
cheney of the men in production at
so per cent.
Then you pay two mon SIS a day
to produce the coal which should be
mined by one man at s7.50?''
Yes sir"
How much additional cost does
this situation as to slack and low ef-
ficiency mean to domestic con-
sumers9''
Probably 25 to so per cent"
Several questions by Presiding
Judge Higgins indicated a possible
plan 70 give the operators a chance
TO employ union men
us there any controversy as to en-
pioyment Of union men," asked Judge
Crawford.
tNone."
May Make Temporary Contract.
Would You be willing to give in some
on a contract for temporary relief and
harmony" asked Judge Higgins.
That would depend where 1 started
in" said Clements
Are Sou willing to enter into a
temporary contract that was season.
able"
Il would on the basis OF your for
mer statements and with no retroac-
tive features"
W l. A. Johnson general commits
sioner for the operators; George L.
Peck, provisional president. and