Douglas daily dispatch., 1928-02-11
COAL STRIKE TO
BE INVESTIGATED
BY u. S. SENATE

WASHINGTON, Feb 10 Q)-A two
barrelled senate inquiry into the Penn
sylvania coal strike situation was in
the offing tonight as result of the
days developments on Capitol hill.
After plea by representatives of
the miners, the senate interstate COM
merce committee deferrd action on the
Johnson resolution for an inquiry b.
that committee but Chairman Watson
said a prirna facie case had been made
out and that the resolution would be
reported favorably
Seven committeeman who consider
ed the resolution we're unanimous in
the opinion that the inquiry, which Is
to go also into conditions in the mining
districts of Ohio and West Virginia
should be conducted by special COM
mittee
The Pennsylvania situation was
brought forcibly to the attention of a
senate judiciary subcommittee by
William Green, president of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, and members
indicated that this committee not only
would seek the facts in that case, but
also with respect to happenings in the
recent street car strike in indianapolis
as a result of which some striking
trainmen went to Jail for contempt os
court
Mr.. Green presented these two speci-
fic cases to the subcommittee as al
part of his argument in support OIL
the Shipstead bill to restrict federal
courts in the issuance of injunctions III
labor disputes. The federation head
said he vas not opposing injunctions
designed to prevent violence, but did
oppose their operation to work hard
ships on Union Workn1en
In the Pennsylvania case complaint
was made about an injunction issued
by Federal District Judge Schoon-
maker at Pittsburgh while in the In
dianapoliS case the complaint was
about an injunction issued by Federal
Judge Baltzell of the Indiana district,
and the sentencing of strikers to jail
for contempt after it had been de-
veloped that a detective in the pay Of
the Indianapolis street railway COM
pany had become head of the local
union and had instigated the strike.
Green said the federation intended
Senator Walsh, democrat, Montana,
suggested that this suhieo+ woe within
the jurisdiction of the judiciary COM
mittee and that it could take the sub
iect up. Chairman Norris agreed N''t
no time was fixed for beginning eithec
that investigation or the one into the
PENNSYLVANIA bituminous mining situa-
ton.
Action by the interstate commerce
committee on the Johnson resolution
went over primarily because Senator
Sackett, republican Kentucky, wants
to be heard on the amendment by
Senator Reed, republican, PennSylvall--
ia. for an investigation into the freight
rate charges on coal.
Phillip Murray, international vice
president of the United Mine Workers
of America. was the only witness be-
fore the committee. He described the
"pitiable conditions" among the mine
workers; complained of the operation,
of iniunctions; assailed Govern
Fisher of Pennsylvania and charged a
conspiracy" by the Pennsylvania,
Baltimore and Ohio and the New York
Central railroads to break coal prices
and the miners union.
Murray complained particularly ol
the Pittsburgh Coal company, which
he said had started the trouble by
abrogating the Jacksonville wage
agreement. He mentioned that r. B:
Mellon, brother of Secretary Mellon,
was director of the company.