Evening star., 1928-03-07
COAL CONSPIRACY
CHARGED BY LEWIS
AT SENATE HEARING
Continued from First Page)

Continued from First Page)
road conspiracy to depreSS mine wages
and coal prices. reached such powerful
proportions in 1927" he continued, that
its influence dominated the coal opera
tors of the central competitive field and
caused them to refuse to renew their
wage agreements with the United Mine
Workers of America"
Lewis said: The Attcrbury policy OF
battering down coal prices had eX-
tended beyond the railroad purchasing
until now the small-toWn purchasing
agent, buying car of coal every now
and then. is patting himself on the
back as he pits one coal company
against the other to depreSs the price
few cents the ton.
Although the rate of bankruptcy
for coal operators had reached alarm
ing proportions in 1926" he said. "the
directing forces of the National Pur-
chasing Agents Association thought 1t
a duty to let its full membership in
on the profits to be obtained from the
coal operators purchase of coal orders
and caused to be issued bulletin tell
ing the why's and whereforeS OF coal
buying. This bulletin tells the con-
Spiracy against coal. the assault against
American wages and working conditions,
and the leVcling of coal mines to profit
less operation III unbridled language"
Asserting that the Pittsburgh Coal
Co and the Pittsburgh Terminal Coal
Corporation have made three wage cuts
since they were de-unionized, Lewis de-
clarcd his belief that the facts would
show that wages lin these non-union
camps are further Debated by the COM
pany stores"
He added that in some non union
fields where the miners wage seems
10 be incapable of further reduction the
workday has been increased from 8 TO
10 hours.
Hits Strike Injunctions.
Turning to the granting of injunc-
tions against the union miners by the
Federal courts, the union leader de-
clared that 1.-The judicial process of in
junction has been granted TO restrain
us in our economic struggle under con-
oitions and for purposes We regard as
intolerable."
He added that the trend of he law
seems 10 be. II 1t has not already reach
ed that conclusion. that the employer
has property right In the non union
status of his employees"
Lewis suggested three specific things
looking TO correction of the conditions
OF which he complained:
That Congress correct the abuses
that have sprung up in the issuing Of
inJunctions by Federal courts In labor
disputes.
That Congress amend the interstate
commerce act SO as TO prevent the rail-
roads from practicing methods designed
10 exploit the bituminous industry
Na@ 81 Kk&
miners union
Substantial consultations OF the
various coal units as a means of stahil-
iZing the industry and reducing produc-
ton costs"
Reads Correspondence.
Senator Wagner. Democrat, New
York. asked Lewis what he meant when
he said Government influence had re.
suited in the Jacksonville agreement
and he replied by reading hitherto un.
published correspondence passing be.
tween him and President Coolidge.
In letter. dated November 81, 1925
the union official called the Presidents
attention that certain coal companies
were violating the Jacksonville wage
agreement and asked whether the Fed.
eral Government desired to intervene
since IL has been instrumental In bring
ing about the Jacksonville agreement
The President replied. under date OF
December 5, 1925. that the Government
was not a party 10 the contract and
consequently had no status In enforce
ment He suggested that the unions
take the matter into the courts and
added thai II no enforcement were TO be
found by appeal 10 the courts. in labo:
contracts when properly formulated
then the laW-making powers shoulc
enact the legislative measures necessary
tn enable the courts TO give such relief
In the future.
Il am not unmindful of the facts tha,
the courts have had few. II any, oppor.
/ trnities TO pass upon the legal right
OF the enforcement OF industrial Joint
| wage agreements. because they are gen.
orally performed as a joint obligation
with violation" the President said
However, you would perform distinct
public service by getting an authorita-
tive court decision on this subject
Membership u 100000.
Apart from the rights or wrongs IN.
/ der Wh,ch the dispute you mention hai
arisen, II Is my understanding that tht
great majority of the mines located IL
! the district subject To the Jacksonville
/ agreement have maintained the term:
OF that contract. although IL Is statet
that majority Of these mines lost
money for some time. due IN the com
petition Of the non-union fields paying
! lower wages"
Senator Fes8. Republican, Ohio asked
! Lewis his opinion Of the effect of striker
on the coal Industry and was told II
was devastating
The only time that all members oi
the mine workers were employed wa
during the war, Lewis told Watson
adding shat the present membership oi
Ills organization was around 400. 900
He estimated that three ~f1fths Of the
men now employed as miners could dc
The work Of The industry. lie denied
that miners would work only four dayf
week, aud quoted figures indicating
! mat one of every SIX miners were killed
or injured IN the course of their work
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