Arizona republican., 1922-01-28
FEDERAL LAW
To REGULATE
COAL FIELDS
IS PROPOSED
Incorporation OF Labor
Unions and Federal Reg
ulatory Tribunal Recon-
mended By Senator'S
[RepubIIcan A. p. Leased WlreT


WASHINGTON, Jan. 27.-Recom-
mendations that statutes be enacted
TO compel the Incorporation of labor
unions and that there be set up
code Of laws and a federal agency for
regulation of the coal industry, af-
fecting employees and employers alike,
were made to the senate today as
result Of the investigation by its
labor committee into the West Vir-
ginia- Kentucky coal field disorders.
Chairman Kenyon of the investiga-
ton committee was author of the
proposal for a federal regulatory
tribunal and the suggestion for OBJ
ligatory incorporation of unions came
from Senators Phipps. Colorado;
Warren of Wyoming and Sterling of
South Dakota, all Republicans. All
three senators supported Senator
Kenyon's proposal for the regulatory
body, but declared that unless incor-
porations were forced the agency he
would set up would have no legally
responsible body with which to deal.
Mr.. Kenyon's statement declared
that mutual concessions must be
made by both operators and miners
in the West Virginia territory to end
the conflicts, but his colleagues held
that the law should provide that
when agreements We're reached
through arbitration or otherwise the
promises thus exacted must be kept.
Gas a matter of fact" the state
Hnent Of the three senators continued,
when conditions made it safe to do
so, when wages scared or when men
were badly needed these contracts
were broken by the employees and
there was no redress. While at the
same time the operators were liable
for the full performance OF their con-
tracts to deliver specified quantities
OF coal at prices at which they had
been sold.'
The statement OF the three sena-
tors filed with the senate late in the
day, said it ought not to be neces-
sary to compel incorporation of labor
bodies. It declared no valid reason
existed for their failure to incor-
porate, and added that such action
would benefit the labor unions them
selves, for it would compel an ac-
count of funds through annual re-
ports to all members Of the organiza-
tions.
Difference Of Opinion
Senators Phipps, Warren and Ster-
ling also differed from Mr.. Kenyon
as to the responsibility for the West
Virginia conditions, where Mr.. Ken
yon charged that both, miners and
operators were measurably respon-
sible. Their view was that too
much stress had been laid upon the
point where operators were to blame
and not enough is said about the
crimes, including murder, of which
the employees were guilty"
A government tribunal for regu-
lation of the coal industry under a
statutory code of industrial law en-
forced only by power of public opin :
ION was recommended in a report
presented to the senate by Chairman
Kenyon of the labor committee,
which recently investigated disorders
in the West Virginia Kentucky coal
fields.
The report held that both coal op-
orators and miners were responsible
for the recent fatal conflicts and
property destruction in West Vir-
ginia and said mutual concessions by
the coal operators ana United Mine
Workers would have to be made to
end the conflict.
"The issue is perfectly plain" said
Senator Kenyon's report. 'The oper-
ators in this particular section OF
West Virginia openly announced that
they will not employ men belonging
to the unions. On the other hand, the
United Mine Workers are determined
to unionize these fields, which are
(Nontinued on mage ~