Evening star., 1935-07-27
MINE WAGE SCALE
EXTENDED WEEKS
President Requests Present
Contract Be Carried
Through September IS.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Seven more weeks Of peace in the
soft coal fields were assured today
with o new extension Of the present
wage scale.
At President Roosevelts request
Appalachian producers and the United
Mine Workers agreed last night to
continue their 1934-5 wage and hour
contract through September IS.
They had reached a deadlock in
their negotiations toward a new con-
tract to succeed the agreement expir-
ing July 81. The union had asked a
30-hour week and a 10 per cent pay
increase. The operators offered to
renew the present wage scale and
35-hour week until next April !.
Strike Threatened.
The union leaders had threatened
to call a strike August unless a new
agreement was reached
Closely linked with the wage ami
hour negotiations is the becloudti
fate of the Guffey coal stabilizatiol
bill. now before a House Ways and
Means Subcommittee.
In his letter yesterday to the min
ers and operators, Mr.. Roosevelt said
it was highly desirable that this
great industry be stabilized"
Not all of the future problems Of
the industry have been resolved" he
added, ''and there is still uncertainty,
yet the effect of suspension Of btu
minous coal mining is so unfortunate
for the whole country, and the pros
poets for constructive legislation are
so substantial, that I am writing TO
ask you TO again extend the present
contract for a further period up un-
til September 49,"
Hearings Closed.
The subcommittee. which closed
hearings three weeks ago. has not
completed consideration of the bill.
This delay has lead to various rumorS
that the measure had been pigeon
holed or that it had been only tenn
porarily laid aside to make way for
the administration tax bill.
John L. Lewis, president Of the
mine union, and one large group of
operators see the answer to the wage
and hour problem in enactment Of
this measure to permit the industry
to fix coal prices.
Opponent operators. on the other
s. -.
tween Lewis wage demands and the
bill.
L. E. Woods, Huntington, W. Va,
producer, in a statement issued by a
committee Of operators against the
bill, called the contract extension an
effort to "browbeat" Congress into
cnacting the Guffey bill.
Text Of Letter.
The text of President Roosevelt
letter follows:
Gentlemen:
81 am appreciative Of the continu-
ing efforts of the joint conference be-
tween the bituminous operators and
the United Mine Workers now In ses-
sion, to reach some satisfactory agree
ulent and solution Of their problems
1t would be unfortunate II these
efforts toward a new contract and
agreement were given up, leaving
the country to the possible suspension
Of operation in the bituminous min
ing industry on August /.
Hope in Legislation.
1T is highly desirable that this
great industry be stabilized, for the
advantage of the workers, the op-
orators and the public in general
You are familiar with the progress
that is being made in the legislative
efforts to assist in the stabilization OF
this industry.
Your existing contract expired or
April l Of this year and has been
renewed under temporary extension
at the request Of the Government.
The third extension expires on Au-
gust l. Not all Of the future problems
Of the industry have been completely
resolved and there is still uncertainty.
yet the effect Of a suspension of
bituminous coal mining is so un-
fortunate for the whole country. and
the prospects for constructive legis-
lation are so substantial, that I am
writing to ask you to again extend
the present contract for a further
period up until September Is.
Certainly by that time the stu
alton will be clarified and you will
be In better position to renew your
joint negotiations.
Very sincerely yours,
A AyYIT