Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-05-12

WASHINGTON, May 9-The tri-
bunal created in the proposed Ken
yon bill to regulate labor affairs in
the coal industry is patterned close
ly after the Railroad Labor Board
established by the law which re-
turned the transportation systems
OF the country to private operation.
1t is designated as the National
Coal Mining Board" and is to be
composed of nine members.
Three members, constituting the
labor group and representing the
coal miners, are to be appointed by
the President of the United States
and shall be selected from men
proposed by the United Mine Work
ers of America. Not less than six
nominations shall be made by the
union. Three members of the board
shall constitute the management
group, representing the coal opera
tors. and they shall be chosen from
not less than six nominees proposed
to the President by the National
Coal Association and the Anthra-
cite Coal Operators Association. AS
the bituminous branch of the coal
industry is much larger than the
anthracite it is assumed that the
bituminous operators will name two
of the three employer members of
the board, but there is no provision
to that effect in the bill.
The third division of three MEM
bers of the board will constitute
the public group, representing the
public interest in the great fuel in
dustry. and they will be chosen by
the President entirely on his own
initiative. All appointments to
places on the board must be con-
frmed by the United States Senate.
If either the employees or employ
ers fail to make nominations and
offer nominees within thirty days
after the passage of the bill in case
of any original appointment to the
office of member of the labor board.
or in case of a vacancy in any such
Office whiting fifteen days after such
vacancy occurs, then the President
shall make the appointments on his
own motion, but he shall select in
dividuals associated in interest with
the groups they are appointed TO
represent.
Any member of the proposed
board who during his term of Office
is an active member or m the I'M
ploy of or holds any Office in any
organization of coal miners or OPP
orators, or owns any stocks or bonds
thereof, or is otherwise financially
interested therein, becomes at once
ineligible for further membership on
the board. but non of the members
will be required to relinquish honor
airy membership in or his rights TO
any organization Of employees or by
any operator.
Ten Thousand Dollar Men
The members of the board will
draw salaries of $4,000 a year.
which is the same as the pay of the
nine members of the Railroad Labor
Board. The term of Office will be
five years after the first appoint
mehts have been made.
Coal miners and operators are ex-
pected to do their utmost TO settle
their quarrels without appealing to
the proposed labor board. Section
8 of the Kenyon bill declares that it
shall be the duty of both operators
and their employees to exert every
reasonable effort and adept every
available means to avoid any inter-
ruption 10 the operation Of any coal
mine which might result as the Gull
mination of a labor dispute. All
7 SQcn disputes Sndi De COuSlucItu
and if possible decided in confer
ence between the representatives
| designated and authorized so TO con
fer by the employers and employees
directly interested.
The proposed law thus contem-
plates the application of the prin-
ciple Of collective bargaining in the
creation OF unofficial machinery
which shall adjust minor differences
and controversies. but when this
machinery cannot accomplish the
desired end, then appeal must be
taken to the labor board which rep
resents not only the miners and
operators, but the public as well.
Three ways are proposed by which
a dispute may be brought before
the board. First the board shall take
jurisdiction in a cast upon the ap'
plication of any operator o. organi'
zation of employees whose member;
are directly interested in the dis,
pute; second, the board may pro
ceed upon the written petition O.
not less than 100 unorganized oil
non-union employees who are direct
Il INTERESTED in the dispute in ques
.ltiA. or. third, the board may &C
on W initiative II II is OF IN
opiniA that the dispute is Hkeil