The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-04-18


 miners and OperatOPS.-EDITOR | Pittsburgh, Pa, April IT suggest l this plan for consideration by all in- | terested persons as a remedy for our | national coal situation: | l. Prohibit the opening of any add1- | tional mines until the consumption Of
 coal exceeds the production of the
 mining properties already developed, | and close, temporarily, as many
 mines as are unnecessary to meet the I requirements of the normal market. | Restrict production by placing a maximum ana minimum capacity on | each mine.
 | 9. Regulate distribution by direct | ing the production of mines to the l nearest points of consumption, eHm- mating haulage and freight charges Require municipalities to provide their own coal yards as distributing points for domestic consumers. Regu- | late the freight rates and the selnns prices for the different seasons of the year.
 8. Place a valuation on each mine in accordance with the amount of condition of the property. Limit the profits and earnings annually, not to exceed or per cent. on the capital invested. Limit the salaries of coal company executives. Place a value per acre on all coal, or land, necessary for future mining pur- poses.
 4. Prohibit corporations consuming the production of their own mines from selling to others, and exclude them from the provision of para graphs and 8.
 "Require all Mines to Be Kept
 SafeSt.''
 5. Require all mines to be kept in the safest condition possible, and the maximum protection given to the life, health and safety of the mine work CTS during the course of their em- ployment. Establish uniform hours of employment, not to exceed eight hours per day, not more than six days each week.
 G. Require all mine owners to in sure to their employees at least 234 days work each year, or an average days employment each week, to be computed quarterly, the employees to be compensated for the time lost, if less than four and one-half days W ork be furnished for each week and re- quire all mine owners to pay their miners at least semi onthly the total wages due in lawful currency of the United States.
 2. Provide a commission of at least five members to meet with the rep resentatives selected by the miners and mine owners to assist in adjusting all questions of wages and working conditions. In the evetn the miners and mine owners representatives are unable to reach an agreement the de- cision of the majority of the com mission shall be final and binding on all parties affected.
 s. Prohibit the permanent closing of mines by mine owners without permission from the Government. tenn porary closing permits to be given to remedy unsafe conditions only.
 Prohibit Strikes on Part of Labor.
 g. Prohibit suspensions of work on the part of miners, thus requiring employees to insure the government regular service, when physically able. idleness not to be permitted unless for substantial reasons.
 10. Provide severe penalties for the violation of the government regula- tons on the part of the public, mine owners or miners. and place the re- sponsibility for enforcement on the Federal Department of Mines, the various States Departments of Mines cooperating, and provide a tax on coal exported to other countries, and regulate the same, collect all excess profits and provide a tax on the pro- duction of coal necessary to defray the expenses of government regula- tions as proposed herein.
 The first objection that will arise in | the minds of those who will examine this proposed plan may be that it is and unconstitutional | Some will say that 1t is revolutionary and socialistic. They overlook the