Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-05-12


| tribunal created in the proposed Ken
yon bill to regulate labor affairs in the
coal industry is patterned closely after
the railroad labor board. established by
the law which returned the transporta-
ton systems of the country to private
operation. It is designated as the
National Coal Mining board" and is
to be composed of nine members.
Three members. constituting the Ia
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 America. 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
b IA six nominees proposed to the
president by the National Coal associa-
ton and the Anthracite Coal Operators
association. As the bituminous branch
Of the coal industry is much larger
than the anthracite it is assumed that
the bituminous 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 pub
lie group, representing the public inter-
est 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.
II either the employees o. employers
fall to make nominations and offer
nominees within 80 days sitter the pas
sage 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, within 10 days after
such vacancy occurs, then the presi-
dent shall make the appointments on
his own motion, but he shall select in
dividuals associated in interest with
the groups they are appointed to rep
resent.
Any member of the proposed board
who during his term Of office is an
active member or in theemploy of or
holds any office in any organization Of
coal miners or operators, or own any
stocks OF bonds thereof or is other
wise financially interested therein, be-
comes at once ineligible for further
membership on the board, but none of
the members will be required to re-
linquish honorary membership in or
bis rights to any insurance or pension
or other benefit fund maintained by any
organization Of employees or by any
operator.
Ten thousand Dollar Men
The members of the board will draw
salaries Of $4,000 a year, which is
the same as the pay of the nine mem
bers OF the railroad labor board. The
term of office will be five years after
the first appointm ents 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. Setcion 3 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 interruption to the oper-
alton of any coal mine which might re-
suit as the elimination Of a labor dis
pute. All such disputes shall be con
sidered and if possible decided in con-
ferences between the representatives
designated and authorized so to confer
by the employers and employees direstly
interested.
The proposed law thus contemplates
the application of the principle of col
teCtiVe bargaining III the creation OF
unofficial machinery which shall ad-
just minor differences and contro-
v~ersies, but when this machinery can-
not accomplish the desired end, then
appeal 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 applica-
ton of any operator or organization Of
employees whose members are directly
interested in the dispute: second. the
board may proceed upon the written
petition of not less than 100 morgan
lied or %non-union employees who are