Evening star., 1923-09-14
j. S. BODY REPORTS
ANTHRACITE PROBE
Recommends Better Rela-
tions Be Established Be-
tween Union and Operators.

The building up of better relations
between the operators and miners
within the agreement period is funda-
mentally necessary and would very
! considerably lessen the probability
of a national coal strike, the United
| States Coal Commission declared. in
| report submitted to President Cool
| idge yesterday.
| The commission in considerable de-
! tail makes recommendations which, il
| believes, would tend to improve rela-
4 tions between the employers and the
workers.
The report declares against nation
/ talization of the mines. It opposes
compulsory arbitration of disputes
| between the workers and operators.
1t recommends compulsory investiga-
! tion. under authority Of the President
OF the United States. when a strike
! threatens, so that when all the facts
! are at hand the power of public opin-
| ion may be brought to bear to
compel a settlement and prevent sus-
| pension of work.
Must Give Warning.
Each agreement should contain a
clause that will provide for automatic
renewal. except in regard to provi-
sions concerning which either party
may have given notice to other
! ninety days in advance of the date of
termination of the agreement. Such
plan would give ample warning of
the danger of a deadlock and oppor-
tunity to set on foot the proposed in
vestigations.
The commission declared its belief
that the operation of the national coal
industry so as to assure an adequate
supply to the public, with adequate
wages to the workers and returns to
the operators was possible.
The commission condemned both the
miners and operators for alleged
derelictions. and recommended that
the two groups join in the study
of ways and means of stablizing
the industry. A suggestion to the
operators was that they perfect
among themselves an organization as
effective as that of the miners both as
a defensive and a cooperative meas
ure.
Incorporation of the unions would
not have the effect OF binding the
union to its contracts. the commission
said, adding that apparently neither
side desires that wage contracts shall
be specific enough to be binding
through judicial enforcement" 1t
recommended special compulsory in
vestigation as soon as failure to re-
new an agreement appeared I'M
minent, and inclusion in every wage
contract of clause providing for
automatic renewal, except respecting
such provisions as may be denounced
ninety days prior to expiration OF
the old contract.
other recommendations.
Other outstanding recommendations
in the report were:
That each side place some check
upon the provocative and truculent
publicity" which tends to undermine
good relations.
establishment in each district and
nationally of joint commissions OF
onerators and miners to make studies
~ the principal jobs and of existing
rate differentials to develop an ade-
ouate basis for the need~T revision OF
the. rate. structure.
If It's study into th'- industry gen.
orallv and into sp~'ddc phases, such
os acknowledgement and inequalities in
rste structure. and continuous, com
f! r,,Iaory collection and publicity of
rates and rate changes in non-union
fields" .,.
union fields of check-weighmen. Sc
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