Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-03-29

INACTIVE IN
FACEOF STRIKE
Without Any Seriously Sup
ported Plan to Handle
The Situation
KENYON is IGNORED
Immediate Effects Viewed as up 10
President Harding-Whole Matter
to be Evaded

Washington, March 29.-W!tn the
nationwide coal strike just three days
away Congress is without seriously
supported projects to make an end to
the haphazardous methods OF settling
disputes between operators and MN
ers that keep the country constantly
on the verge of an industrial par
oxyism.
Congress is not bothering about the
immediate effect of the impending
strike, regarding that as something
President Harding may walk the floor
about. And it is not bothering about
the strike as recurring symptom OF
disease in the coal industry, regarding
that as something so difficult of treat
ment as to be avoided, if possible.
Back in February William S. Ken
yon, then senator from Iowa and
chairman Of the Committee on Educa-
tion and Labor, introduced bill to
create a permanent arbitration baord
between the operators and miners, to
be known a the National Coal Mining
Board" and to define in broad terms
the rights of operators and miners for
the guidance Of the board. The scheme
was similar to the Railway Labor
Board. Mr. Kenyon believed there
was strong chance that the board
and the governing code would prove to
been curative agency.
The board wa sto be composed of
nine members, three representing la
Dor, three representing the operators
and three representing the public. Dis
putes not settled between the operator
and his men, or between groups OF
operators and their men, were to be
referred to it. 0 rthe board on its own
motion was to be a llowed to investi-
gate threatening situation and make
a decision. A majority vote, to in
clude the vote of at least one repre-
sentative of the public, was required
to reach decision.
The code provided in the Kenyon
bill! included the following provisions:
That the public interest in produc-
tion and distribution of coal is pre-
dominant.
That capital honestly invested
should have an adequate return from
the coal industry.
That human standards should be
the constraining influence in fixing
working conditions and wages.
That a common laborer should he
entitled to living wage sufficient to
keep normal family decently and to
provide savings against old age and
unemployment.
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That for other classes of mine
workers differentials in pay should be
allowed above the basic wage of the
common laborer. these differentlal: to
take into account skill, hazards of
work, experience and productive ef-
fciency.
That women should have the same
pay for the same work as men, all the
rights and guarantees of men and
every safeguard of health and
strength. and that children under 16
wears of age should not be employed
in the mines.
That six days should be the stand
ard weeks work in the mines and
eight hours the standard day, and that
punitive overtime should be paid for
the time worked each day in excess
of eight hours.
That both operators and miners
should have the right to organize or
not do so; that no interference or CO.
ercion from any source should he al
lowed in the course of members OF
either group. and that the right Of
operators and miners to bargain col
lectively through representatives nt
their own choosing should he recog-
nized.