, 1923-07-29
CHAMP US. WILL ASK
GIVES CUP To LOCAL FACTIONS
MOVIE 0UEENTO ARB|TRATE
Commission Is Considering
Strong Demand to Anthra-
cite Operators and Miners

WASHINGTON, July %. Omitted
Press.)- Members OF the United
States coal commission are consider
ing sending a strong demand for the
anthracite operators and miners to
settle their controversy over wages
and working conditions, 1t was
learned.
John Hays Hammond. chairman Of
the commission, declared after a
hurriedly convened meeting today
that the commission would insist on
accord in the lame of the public
interests.
other members of the commission
made it known that they believed
the joint conference Of operators and
miners which broke up at Atlantic
City Friday without settling the chief
points Mt issue. would reconvene in
the rear future.
1t is the opinion of the commission
Public opinion will compel an agree
ment, one commissioner stated
Members of the commission gen.
orally took the attitude that without
formal powers on mediation. the best
course for the commission to pursue
is to attempt to compose tho present
crisis, through informal intervention.
such as a public message on the
situation.
Quick action is desired by h com
mission because the body expires on
September 22. It s now working on
final reports on the bituminous and
anthracite industries. Should the
present machinery for settling dis
putes In the industry again prove
futile, the commission wants this
made perfectly clear SO that arrange
ments for more effective means a
be included in the final reports.
The federal fuel administrator prob
ably will continue to function as long
as there is any danger Of a strike.
Production of anthracite is now
proceeding It the rate OF slightly
over 1000, 900 tons per week. record
ing to figures of the geological survey
tonight
For the calendar year to July 81.
Sc. sos, 900 tons were mined. compared
with 23.AOs, 900 tons for the year end
ing the same date last year.
ClI1s ~. J.s ouiy 90
UNITED REORGANIZATION of h
check-off system by leaders of btu
minous coal operators came oday as
an aftermath to the breaking UP yes
terday of the anthracite joint wage
committee conference here.
The chcck-or is n Of h ch'et
points at issue.
Under the check-off system h
operators act as collection agencies
for the unions by deducting from the
OF the miners h dues ana
other union assessments.
..The check-off has proved SO
inimical to the steady and peacefui
production of bituminous coal that
the bituminous operators special COM
mittee has filed formal request with
the United States coal commission Tor
the complete abolition of this sys-
tenn" the bituminous association do
clared in a statement.
.'This system was originally ac-
cepted in the bftuminous industry IN
the hope that 1t would tend 10 lessen
strikes and breaches OF agreement
The result has been Just h
1.-THE check-off is contrary both 10
the principles OF Americanism ana
uaionism."
John, L. Lewis, president of the
United Mine Workers. vigorously de-
nounced the statement as "propa'
ganda in behalf of the n%on-union o
operators who dominate the national
coal association" and declared that
John @. Brydon, president OF n
association and chairman of the nuu'
minous committee. is using a si,oVo5,
600 slush fund against the United
Mine Workers OF America