The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-11
President Kennamer Pleased With Reception Accorded by
 Federal Board Members at TWo-Hour Hearing Satur- day-AII Angles Discussed
WELFARE WORK STUDIED BY MEMBER AND HIS WIFE
Howell and Marshall Plan to Leave Birmingham Early Sunday-John Hays Ham,
 mond and Sister Will Stop Over, Going to Montgomery

Concluding their personal observa- tion of conditions in the Alabama coal fields Saturday afternoon by according a two-hour hearing to of- sicials of the United Mine Workers, members of the federal coal commls- sion Saturday night were preparing to depart from Birmingham. after having won much favorable comment for the businesslike and effective manner in which they conducted their investigation.
 Clark Howell of Atlanta was plan- ming to entrain early Sunday morn Ing for Atlanta and ex-Vice Presi- dent Marshall and his wife were to take an early train Sunday for Wash ington. John Hays Hammond, the third member and chairman If the commission. who was accompanied here by his sister, Miss Elizabeth Hammond, and her companion, Mrs. M. B. Smith, will leave Monday for Washington. R. A. Watts, engineer. and G. c. wathen, MT. Marshallis secretary. will leave Monday also. Mine Workers Pleased.
 The United Mine Workers of Amer lea, Alabama division, speaking through President J. R. Ksnnamer. were pleased with the reception ac- corded them Saturday afternoon be- tween 2:30 and 4:30 o'clock by the federal coal commission members. all of whom were present at the hearing and are reported as having given interested attention to every state ment made by the representatives of the union miners.
 'I must say that they were very ta nc c said PreSideDt namer. They gave us thorough att tention for two hours, during which time we were able to make presenta- tion of many phases of the indus try in Alabama AS viewed from our standpoint.
 "All three commissioners were present and each of them listened patiently as we spoke of labor or ganization In the mine field. the troubles we have experienced and the conditions as we view them and as we think they ought to be.
 Talks were made by myself. In ternational Organizer l.. B. Baird, and Secretary J. L. Clemo. We each took up different matters and each was accorded courteous attention. It was a thoroughly nice affair and a very pleasant interview with the
 
 ready and willing to hear all that we wished to tell them and they paid attention to everything we said" Shown Welfare Work
 A feature of the day was the visit of Mir. and Mrs. Marshall to mine villages of the Tennessee company with President George Gordon Craw- s. of the sociological aspects of the in- dustry. Mrs. Marshall gave a won,- ans eye to the conditions and MT. Marshall observed them from a mans standpoint. It is understood that the entire commission has been much interested in the welfare prop osition and that unstinted admlra- ton has been openly accorded many of the provisions made for the health, comfort and pleasure of mine workers. their wives and their chl- dren.
 The difference between conditions at the mines now and q decade to fifteen years ago is understood to have made a deep impression on all the visitors.
 There is very general comment on the busnesslil<e manner in which the commission has proceeded with their mine investigation. Chairman Hammond declined in advance all in- vitations to social affairs, declaring that they were coming here on busi- ness and that business and pleasure would not mix
 The commissioners have spent nine-tenths of their time right at the mines. They have gone into the mines and they have talked to em- ployes at the mines. They have been in the company stores and taken note of home surroundings. They have seen free mines and mines operated by convict labor. They have visited the big mines producing for the iron and steel concerns and the small mines producing for the com- mtrcIal and domestic coal trade. o o O
 Qualified To Act
 Consensus of opinion among indus- trial and business men is that the comm ssion has done it's work well and that it has acquired a first-rate and reliable impression of the Ala bama coal field which will qualify them to properly weight, understand and act on the detailed data sub- mtted to them by operators. miners and others.