Evening star., 1934-04-08
n. R. A. WILL MEET
MINE CHALLENGE
Protest Against Wage and
Hour Rule to Mark
Efforts.
Nv the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
A high spot in the Government
recovery efforts will be reached by
N. r. A. tomorrow when it meets the
challenge of bituminous coal opera
tors from five States against the new
wage and hour mandate for the soft
coal industry.
A public hearing arranged to give
objectors q chance to be heard, starts
then, and strong opposition Is ex-
pected from mine owners IN Illinois,
Alabama. West Kentucky, West Vir-
ginia and Tennessee.
On April l the wage and hour pro-
visions Of the code expire and with
new agreements from only part OF
the industry. Hugh S. johnson Or
dered the seven-hour day and COM
pensating increases in wages estab-
lished for the entire industry as q
stop-gap measure to prevent threat
ened widespread strikes.
Strikes Have Followed.
Since the madate went into effect
strikes, shut downs and legal action
have resulted.
Alabama operators obtained 10
day injunction restraining the admin
istration from enforcing the terms OF
the code amendment; sporadic vio-
lence occurred in the Logan County
fields of West Virginia and mines
were shut down in several States, in
Guiding the Fairmont region of
northern West Virginia, where opera
tors are protesting against elimina-
tion OF a 24-cent wage difterentisl
they had enjoyed over the Pitts
bureh district.
Massed ON the side of N. r. A. is
Mine Workers of America. A repre-
sentative of John l.. Lewis, interna-
tional president Of the union. said to-
day the organization planned 10 give
the administrations order complete
support at the hearing.
Doubts Injury.
I'VE don't believe the Alabama op-
orators are being hurt by the order" 1"
the union spokesman said. They
have their own market down there,
which is practically competitive
as far as other States are concerned
and not so long ago they used to pay
the same wage scale as adjacent
areas"
Under wage agreement negotiated
with the union March l6. the Alabama
operators established basic wage of
$3.50 day, whereas the scale ap-
proved by johnson set the basic wage
for them at $i.60. In the Northern
Appalachian. Illinois and Indiana
fields the basic rate is S.. represent
ing in ALL except the Illinois flelds, an
increase Of 40 cents a day.
Administration off1cisls regard the
approval of the new schedule as one
OF the most drastic steps taken in the
recovery program. but johnson indi-
Gated there would be every disposition
to adjust inequalities If the terms OF
the order could be shown to be eco
nomically unfair.
Wages Center Of Dispute.
Most of the opposition at Mondays
meeting Is expected to center on wages
rather than on the shortened working
hours. and indications are that both
the administration and the miners
will battle to the end to hold the
seven-hour day.
However, informed circles said there
might be . move ON the part OF the
Progressive Miners of America, q ri
val Of United Mine Workers, to claim
exemption from the shorter day. The
progressives, seeking recognition OF
their union, are to have q hearing
Wednesday Of sundry complaints be-
fore the Recovery Review Board,
headed by Clarence DarroW, the noted
criminal lawyer.
This angle of the proceedings is be-
Ing closely watched, incidentally, by
Patrick J. Hurley, former Secretary
of War, who is counsel for the Sahara
Coal Co., with holdings in Southern
Illinois, where the prosressives are
strongest.
Will Reopen Mines.
Meanwhile at least temporary peace
Is being attempted in many of the
affected regions. Alabama operators
planned to reopen their mines Mon
day under the old wage scale and
eight-hour day.
There was no indication whether
the $4,000 miners would 80 to work,
however.
Illinois operators have agreed to
comply with the terms Of Johnsons
order, subject TO the condition that
any adjustments effected at the pub
lie hearing would be retroactive and
union officials here said the situation
In the Logan fields was clearing up.
They described the walkout there as
due partly to misunderstanding of the
facts by the MINERS and partly to
desire to celebrate" their new wages
and hours.