The Daily Alaska empire., 1935-09-16
THE GuFFEY-sNYDER COAL ACT

Seeks to stabilize the bitumnous coal-mining in- dustry and promote it's interstate commerce.
 Recognizes and declares that the mining and distribution of bituminous coal affected with national public interest and that the general wei fare of the nation requires that the industry be regulated as provided in the act
 Establishes in the Interior Department a Na- ltional Bitumuous Coal Commission of five mem bers appointed by the President, at annual salaries of SlO000 each to administer the act. Sets up in the Interior Department the office of Consumers Counsel in charge Of s1oOo0-a-year counsel appointed by the President, to appear in the interest of the consuming public" in any pro- ceedng before the commission, and also to conduct independent investigation of matters relative to the soft coal industry.
 Imposes upon the sale other disposal of all bituminous coal produced in the United States punitive excise of IS per cent the sale price at the mine, to be payable to the United States by producers of such coal. Coal producers who file with the National Bituminous Coal Commission their acceptance of the Bituminous Coal Code provided for in the act are to be entitled to a drawback in the form of a credit upon the amount of such tax equivalent to 90 per cent of the tax
 Directs the commission to formulate Bitum- nous Coal Code which shall contain certain manda- tory conditions provisions and obligations Let forth in the act.
 Provides for the organization of twenty three district boards of coal producers each district con- sisting of not less than three nor than seven teen members permits the establishment or main- tenance of marketing agencies within any district by voluntary association of producers within any producing field in such district and vests district boards and marketing agencies with power to adopt rules of procedure subject to approval of the com mission.
 Authorizes the district boards, on their own motion or when directed by the commission, to establish minimum prices coal produced in district; to make such classification of coal and price variations as to mines and consuming market areas as the boards may deem necessary and proper and in order sustain the stabilization of wages working conditions and maximum hours of labor the act directs that these prices shall be established so as to yield return per net ton for each district in minimum price equal as nearly as possible to the weighted average of the total costs per net ton of the tonnage of such minimum price area I Re-enacts and makes applicable to the bituminous coal industry the provisions of Section Ia of the National Recovery Act giving to labor the right to organize and bargain collectively through represen- tatives of their choosing free from interfer- ence, restraint or coercion of employers
 Creates Bituminous Coal Labor Board of three members appointed by the President at sl0,- 900 annual salary each to see that the labor rela- tions provisions of the act are carried out, ad- indicate disputes and act mediator in any dis, pute between producer and his employees where such dispute is not determined by the tribunal sci up in bona fide collective contract"