Evening star., 1928-03-29
FORD HELP SOUGHT
BY COAL PROBERS
Committee Will Question
Magnate on Salary Scales
in Mines.

Suggestions for alleviating the pres
ent difficulties and solving the problems
of the solt coal industry will be sought
from Henry Ford by the Senate COM
mittee investigating conditions in the
bituminous regions
Members of the committee decided to
call Mr. Ford after hearing the testi-
mony of Percy Tetlom. president of the
West Virginia district of the United
Mine Workers. who pointed out that
while the Ford mines were paying So
day other mines were paying as low
as $285 a day
Senator Wagner, Democrat, of New
York. suggested that in view of the
enormously higher wage that Mr. Ford
was able to pay. he might have in
formation enlightening to the commit
tee"
Clash Marks Hearing.
Chairman Watson was at first in
Cltned to invite MIR. Ford to come before
the committee but when 1t was recalled
that John ID Rockefeller, jr,, Charles
NJ. Schwab. and r. b. Mellon who ap-
peared before the committee recently.
had been subpoeuaed. it was decided to
issue a subpoena in Mr. Fords case
Senator Wheeler, Democrat. Of Mon
tana, and Mr.. Tetlow, both brought up
the fact that the United States Steel Co.
also paid its miners on a higher scale.
They said the increased cost was abb
Sorbed by the larger properties Of the
company, which consumed the coal
product. Such a policy, however, Is not
followed in the Bethlehem Steel Co s
mines. they said.
William p Belden, chief counsel for
The Ohio operators, challenged some Of
the statements made by Tetlow. par
tiCularlY the assertion that the Cabin
Greek Coal Co. prohibited its employees
from buying elsewhere than at the
company's stores John l.. Lewis. pres
ident Of the United Mine Workers. who
was on the stand. also clashed with Mr.
Belden.
United Mine Workers counsel today
plunged further into the West Virginia
aspect Of the soft coal investigation
with w. H. Conaway receiver for the
Brady-Warner Coal Corporation, testify
ing relative TO that concerns financial
relations with its employees and rail-
road customers.
Brings Salary Records.
His reccivcrship dated from July %.
1927, and he disavowed knowledge Of
the company business prior to that
date
T. c. Townsend, union attorney.
elected that Conaway had brought the
required records of salary scales be-
tween 1920 and 1927 But the witness
plead lack of familiarity with the de-
tails, saying the documents had reached
him only this morning
After a cursory looking over Of the
data, Townsend said IL showed a COM
parative lower wage for 1927 for the
Brady-Warner mines In contrast to the
scale Of 1923. which he said was the
last year that the mines were under
union operation
Townsend turned to the sale OF coal
10 the railroads, and Conaway testi-
fed that the majority Of railroads had
refused to buy coal directly. insisting
that the sale go through a broker In
response 10 Senator Wagner Democrat
New York. he admitted a belief that
discrimination was practiced by this
method.
The witness named the Lehigh Valley
Railroad as an example. saying 1t paid
Sl.50 ton 10 the middleman for
Brady-Warner coal while the company
received $3.50 ton.
Says Coal WIS Sold at Loss.
Conway declared that all coal of
the Brady-Warner Corporation had
been sold at loss since he became re-
sceiver.
Al the outset OF the session Mr.. Tet-
low named the Indian Run Galleries
Co. of Elk Ridge. w. Va. as the con-
Germ which he had previously charged
with requiring its miners to pay the
salaries OF outside employees The union
leader maintained that the company
had reduced wages so low that they
we're ashamed TO make a further re-
duction and 50 decided 10 require the
miners To pay outside workers salaries
instead. He credited this information
10 an unnamed miner and cited w f
Wright as president Of the company
A. M. Belcher. operators counsel, as
serted that the company Is no longer
existent as such. and that he under
stands It's properties are now mined
under a receiyership.