The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-13
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC J. HAsKN. DireetsE.
Washington, d. @.
LABOR BOARD FOR COAL
INDUSTRY.

the coal industry is patterned closely
after the railroad lobar board, estab-
lished by law which returned 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 menu
bers.
Three members, constituting the la
Dor 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 Workers of Amer
lea. Not less than six nominations
shall be made by the union. Three
members of the board shall constitute
the management group, representing
the coal operators. and they shall be
chosen from not less than six noml-
nees proposed to the president by the
National Coal association and the An
thracite Coal Operators association
AS the bituminous branch of the coal
industry is much larger than the an
thracite, it is assumed that the btu
minous 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 members
of the board will constitute the public
group, representing the public interest
in the great fuel industry, and they will
be chosen by the president entirely on
his own initiative. All appointments
to places on the board must be con-
firmed by the United States senate.
If either the employees or employers
fail to make nominations and offer
nominees within 80 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, with
in fifteen days after such vacancy oc-
ours. then the president shall make
the appointments on his own motion,
but he shall select individuals asso-
GATED 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 in the employ OF
or holds any office in any organiza-
Owns any stocks or bonds thereof or
is otherwise financially interested
therein, becomes at once ineligible for
further membership on the board. but
none of the members will be required
to relinquish honorary membership
in or his rights to- any insurance or
pension or other benefit fund main
tanned by any organization of en-
ployes or by any operator.
Ten Thousand Dollar Men.
The members of the board will
draw salaries of $4,000 a year. which
members of the railroad labor board.
The term of office will be five years
after the first appointments 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
of the Kenyon bill declares that it
shall be the duty of both operators
and their employees to exert every
reasonable effort and adopt every
available means to avoid any inter
ruption to the operation of any coal
mine which might result as the Gull
minaeion of a labor dispute. All such
disputes shall he considered and if
possible decided in conferences be-
tween the representatives designated
and authorized SO to confer by the
employers and employees directly in
terested.
The proposed law thus contempIates
the application of the principle of col
lectiVe bargaining IN the creation of
unofficial machinery which shall ad-
sizes, but when this machinery cannot
accomplish the desired end, then ap-
peal must be taken to the labor board
which represents 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 case upon the appli-
cation Of any operator or organization
of employees whose members are di-
rectly interested in the dispute; sec
ond. the board may proceed upon the
written petition of not less than 100
unorganized or non-union employees
who are directly interested in the dis
pute in question; or, third, the board
may act on its own initiative if it is
of the opinion that the dispute sis
likely substantially to interrupt COM
MERGE" The hoard may thus act in
any dispute with respect to wages,
hours of labor and other working con-
ditions.
The board, once It has taken Juris-
-diction in. a case, must render its de-
period is extended by agreement of
the parties. and there can be no de-
clsion by the board except by the con-
currence of at least five of the nine
members, and at least one member of
the public group must join in the
decision.
No Penalty to Enforce Decisions.
No penalties are provided for viola
tons of the decisions of the labor
board. When the transportation act
was under consideration in congress
this question of creating board with
out giving it power to enforce it's de-
crees was debated at length, hut in
the end ii was decided wisest to leave
such persons as would not abldE BY
the decisions of such a tribunal sub
iect only to the condemnation and
opprobrium that would be visited
upon them by public opinion In the
experience of the railroad labor board
only one or two of its DEGREES have
been evaded or defied. and it is be-
lieved that public opinion can be as
effiea in enforcing a labor boards
decision as any penalties in the form
of fines that might be provided
The board. however, does have au-
thority TO compel the appearance of
witnesses and the production of papers
and documents. ADS member may re-
quire by subpoena. the attendance of
any witness and the production of any
book. paper, document or other evil
dence from any place in the United
States at any designated place of hear
ing. and in case of failure to comply
with any subpoena. or in case of the
contumaey of any witness appearing