Evening star., 1928-03-10
WAGE PACT UPHELD,
OPERATOR CLAIMS
Senate Probers Told Agree
ment Was Kept Despite
Company Loss.

By the Asso"iatsd Press.
The Jacksonville wage agreement was
respected as legally and morally binding
by the Pennsylvania Coal 81 Coke Cor
poration. which mines in central Penn
sylyania. John w. Searls. president, tes-
tilted today before the Senate commit
tee investigating the bituminous situa-
ton.
Searls. resident OF West Orange, N.
j.. said that similar agreements had
been maintained since 1898, and that
his concern had observed the Jackson
Vile scale until the contract lapsed,
even though it was considered "un-
economic" He refused To express a
preference for operation by union or
non-union labor, asserting that hts eX-
perience with the "open shop" had been
too short
Coal Cost Varies.
"rhe cost of coal varies said the
operator. IN explaining sales 70 rail-
roads. I'VE sell them higher VIOLA
tile coal and it costs us lot less than
the average price to produce"
Senator Wheeler, Democrat, Mon
tana. questioned the operator on cost
Of production and the sale price TO
railroads, apparently with a view to-
ward developing the charges by John
L. Lewis, president OF the United Mine
Workers. that the railroads conspired
through manipulation OF large purchas-
ing power. to lessen fuel prices by de-
pressing miners wages.
Searls said that the New York Central
Railroad and the Pennsylvania Railroad
had recently paid S1.90 q ton for coal
to his company. representing an ap-
proximate loss on the coal OF 81 cents
per ton to the company.
He denied, however, that this ac-
counted for his company losing money
for the past four years. Asked ~na'
was mainly responsible for the losses
he said: High wages"
Labor Condemned.
Organized labor and collective bar
gaining were condemned before the
committee Yesterday by w. G Warden
chairman OF the board of directors OF
the Pittsburgh Coal Co. who accepted
responsibility for initiating that con-
Germs reputation of the United Mine
Workers and scrapping OF the Jackson
Vile wage agreement in 1928.
Shortly before the crowded commit
zee room had heard charges by OllVel
K. Eaton. union attorney, that the Fed
eral Council of the Churches OF Christ
in America was in collusion with coal
operators on q report to "whitewash'
the latter of responsibility "for the dis
tressing situation in the Pennsylvania
coal fields
Later and away from the hearing DIR
w. l.. Darby of Washington. secretary
for the Federal Council of Churches
said he had heard that a report or
the coal situation was planned.
Policy Held Unbiased.
Our policy" he said. "is to be un-
biased. 1t Is the custom in such eases
to submit both sides in report, the
one pitted against the other. do no'
know about the coal report. as that i
being handled in our New York office
Eaton based his statement on q bull
! letin OF the National Coal Association
which he offered In evidence. Datec
| March 8. 1928. the bulletin quoted F
/ Ernest Johnson executive secretary o
the Church Council. es authority tha
the report was being prepared 'bv th'
council at the instance OF the organisa
/ ton OF the Protestant Churches in Pitts.
burgh"
Mr.. Johnson had only the highest
praise for all operators whom he ai:c
his associates interviewed" said the bull
letin. In connection with the prepara'
| ton OF the report. II added that tht
operators had co-operated fully in sup
! plying information concerning coudi
tons in the western district OF Penn
| Sylvania and that before the report va
| issued. tentative drafts would he sen
| the interested operators so that the,
might have the opportunity 10 point on
| to the council any errors 1t said ais
| that the council was desirouS OF gettinl
this report before the public while III.
| industry is under congressional spot.
| light"
! Flourishing copy of the bulletin
| Eaton said he submitted the Coal As.
Sociation document for a specific pur.
pose"
Wsrden's stand against labor resulted
! In sharp exchange With Senate.
Wheeler, Democrat. Montana