Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-27
KENYON PROPOSES
u. S. COAL TRIBUNAL
Industrial Law, Enforced Only
by Power of Public Opinion,
Senator's Plan
RIGHTS OF LABOR GUARDED


Washington, Jan. 27.--A Govern
nIcnt tribunal f,r rrr7i,atl07 Of tho coal
industry. under statutory code Of In
iustrial law. enforced only by power Of
rublic opinion. vas recommended in n
report presented to tho Senate today
by Chairman Kenyon. Of the labor
Committee. which recently investigated
disorders In the West Virginia. Ken
tucky coal fields.
The report held that both coal OPP
orators and miners were responsible for
the rc'rnt fatal conflicts and property
obstruction in West Virginia, and said
mutual cvnc sSa!ons by the coal opera .
tors and United Mine Workers would
have to bc made to end thc conflict.
Issue Sharply Drawn
"Th' issue IS perfectly plain" sail
ScnHtor KcTycn'S rcHort. '"The on.
"rntov4 IN this particular section Of
West Virginia openly announce that
they will not employ men belonging to
the unions; and further, that they have
The right. ard Will exercise It II they
desire, ~ discharge man II he be-.
A.
the United Mine Workers are deter.
mlrel to urlon!ze thcso fields. whic'.
are virtually thc only large and i'm.
rortart coal fields In the United States
not unionizPd.
The proposal for a Federal coal tri-
bnnal md code of laws applying both
|" operators and miners was his per-
Sonal suggestion. Senator Kenyon said.
Other members of the investigating
,cmmttt>c did not sign tho report and
nrc n liberty 70 submit Individual re-
lsNrtS.
Senator Outlines Plan
Senator Kenyon announced that late:
he would INTRODUCES bill covering hiS
ian for the coal board and "codc, 4"
which follows:
First. Coal Is n public utility. and
IN It's production and distribution the
fdblic interest is predominant.
''S"conl. Human standards should
be the constrn,nlng influence in fixing
the wages and working conditions Of
!n.i.r workers.
Third. Capital, prudcntly and hon
cs'ly invested in tho coal industry,
ShoGld have IN adequate return Rh-
cicnt - stimulate and accelerate the
pTodu"tlor Of this cSscntla, commodity.
"FoVr1h. The r,cht of operators and
miners - organize is recognized ana
affirmed. This right shall not br dcn!cd
abridged or intcrfcrcd with in any
measures Of any kind be used by cln
Tlcyera or employees to exercise or to
refrain from exercising this right.
Fifth. The right Of operators ana
of miners to bargain collectively.
through representatives cf their own
choosing. IS recognized and affirmed.
Sixth. The miners who are not
members Of q union have TIE right to
work without being hnrasscl by fellow
wnrkmcn who may belong to unions.
Tie men who belong TO union have
the right to work without being ha-
-assrd by operators who do not believe
II ur!oaiSm. The urgHn!Za tiOn' have !,
right 70 go intO non union fields and by
rCnc~ablc methods try 70 persuade mon
tc join the ur!onS. hut they have no
right 70 try and induce employees to
Tiplatc contracts which they have en-
tered into with their employers, and
the operators. OF tho other hand, have
tho right bv -,careablc mems t. try 70
persuade men 10 refrain from Joining
the unions.
Seventy. The r.gh. Of all UnskillNd
0v common lab0rrrs % earn m adequate
living wage sufficient 10 maintain the
worker and lis family in health and
reasonable comfort and to afford m
opportunity Cor savings aShinst unem-
ployncut. old az and other C"ntin-
orncics, IS Leroby declared and affirmed.
AbOv" this 1asic wage for Unskillcd
y I'll - Fnp
other mine workers shall be established
:Or skill, experience. hazards Of c!a-
rluvmrnt and productive cthC!cnCT.
Eighth. The right Of women 20 en-
gage in industrial Occupations IS recOg-
rizcl and affirmed. Their rates Of pay
shall be the same as thoSe OF male
workers FOR the same or equivalent serv-
ice performed. They shall De accorded
all the nights and guarantees granted
- male workers. and the conditions Of
their employment shall surround them
wiki every safeguard of their health
end strength ard guarantee them the
full measure Of protecti'r which Is the
dcbt Of >Oriety to mothers and 10 po-
tcn,iaI mothers. Few women are en-
gagged In any way IN mining, but il may
he rs we'll 70 announce tbs proposition
oa "a rass Il By.
"Ninth. Children under RI" nGr Of
si-tesn T"a-s shEll not b" employed IN
ttc !addstry "n,"Hs permits have been
ieS-.rl under State authority.
"T"rt'. S,v days shal b" tEe stanl-
n"h work wcei; N the industry. with
one days rest in seven. The standard
workdOy shall not exceed eight hours
Gay. =,
"E'Nv"nta. Pun:c.v. overtime shall
b., pail for ours worked each day in
cxrHss Of the standard work day.
Twelfth. When dispute or con :
trovcrSy arises between operators and
mine workers there should be no strike
or lockout. pending conference or n
hearing and determination Of the facts
and principles i"vOlvei.'
Senator Kenyon said his plan offered
n solution for the coat industry = prob
LENS" which bids' fair 20 CONFRONT Us
more acutely before another season shaI!
pass,
Kansas Court idea Futile
The Kansas Industrial Court idea,
involving compulsory arbitration. he
said, had been proved tut!ie. The Kansas
court, he added, "cannOt be Il success
because II has no underlying code o!
rules or principles.
10th sides have "een forgetHul OF
the great third party-the public-whtch
has 4 vital intercft in preserving in
dustr!al peace" the report declared.
That members OF the United Mine
Workers have dune acts Of violence ir
this NIingo COntroN rrsy cannot be "ls'
putcd The operators have been guilty
Of practices also. in portions OF this re-
gion. that cannot he justified
"The whole story Of the contest