Evening star., 1933-12-16
MINING CONGRESS
SUPPORTS N. R. A.
Urges No Maximum Hour
Law, Fearing Handicap
on Business.

Pledging support of. the N. r. A., the
American Mining Congress last evening
recommended liberalization Of the Fed
eral securities act and urged Congress
not to pass maximum hours-of-
labor law.
Attending the conference were mine
owners representative Of the industry
throughout the Nation. Endorsing the
Recovery Administration was viewed in
some quarters as especially significant
because Of the fight between Gen. Hugh
S. johnson and E. T. Weir, head of the
Weirton Steel Co., on the question of
whether the National Labor Board is to
supervise an election to determine
whether company union or the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor should repre-
sent employees in collective bargaining
negotiations.
This matter was not referred to by
the congress. however. its Endorsement
Of the N. r. A, coming in the course
mum hours-of-labor law. It stated:
I'VE pledge sincere cooperation with
the National Recovery Administration
and a most sincere effort to provide
facilities for increased employment, but
We urge that no congressional action
be taken which will handicap industry
in its efforts to get back to normal
conditions"
Cooperation Pledged.
Yesterday, Donald B. Gillies, presi-
dent of the Corrigan, Mckinney Steel
Co. Of Cleveland. and director of the
American Iron & Steel Institute, spoke
in similar strain. He said:
Let there be no mistake about it
the steel industry stands wholeheartedly
with the President IN his great effor:
to bring about recovery and increased
fort to the end of contributing to its
success and full compliance with NJ
r. A. provisions are dominant policies
in the steel industry today"
+. As to the limitation on working hours,
the Congress went on record as ''un-
alterably opposed to national legisla-
ton which would blanket all industry
of the country with general law
relating to maximum hours of labor =
While approving the Federal securi-
ties act in principle, the mining con-
gress proposed an amendment to the
section relating to civil and criminal
responsibility Of directors and officers
so as to protect them from attacks in
courts
In another resolution, the group re-
quested that any further change in the
activities Of the Bureau of Mines be
withheld until the mine operators have
a chance to study the bureau and make
recommendations Dissatisfaction was
expressed with the failure to include
mine operators on the committee which
is investigating the Bureau of Mines at
the request of Secretary of Interior
Ickes.
The resolutions were adopted at the
end Of three-day meeting in the May
flower Hotel Today some of the dele
gates were taking part in the annual
meeting of the board Of governors of
the Coal Manufacturers Section of the
congress, a closed session. This will
conclude all meetings of the body.
Announcement was made yesterday
of the election by the board of direc-
tors Of Howard I. Young Of st. Louis
as president. He succeeds j. B. War
riner of Philadelphia. Other officers
chosen were A. E. Bendelari. Cincinnati,
first vice president; D. D. Moffat. Salt
Lake City, second vice president, and
j. B. Putnam. Cleveland, third vice
president. j. F. Callbreath will continue
to serve as secretary. NeT members
@@s
Segerstrom and A. B. Jessup.
Pittman Urges Silver.
Chairman Pittman of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee addressed
the congress yesterday, urging re-
establishment Of silver as currency
base
This country never will go back to
the old gold standard, Senator Pittman
said, and the only way it can have q
sound currency Is to authorize q dual
standard Of silver and gold. He said
there may be enough gold to main
tain the international balance Of trade,
but there never will be enough for do
mestic use.
Speaking last evening beforesthe con-
greSs, Mitchell B. Carroll, expert on
international double taxation for the
League of Nations Secretariat, said
suggestions made by Congress to the
detriment Of foreign tax credits would
nullify any treaty work which might
come as result Of his studies. James
r. Knapp also discussed international
double taxation.