Evening star., 1937-09-11
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commission by President Wilson, with
authority to settle issues. Miners
wages had not increased. with the in
creased cost of living at the close of
the World War. SO the coal commits
sion met early in 1920. and estab-
lished national wage-making policy
for the industry. The members did
wonders in overcoming ruinous COM
petitive conditions of the industry.
that had resulted in advantage being
taken of the workers.
In 1924, wages went up to $3.50 a
day for day labor and tonnage prices
we're raised correspondence Because
of the intensely competitive conditions
existing in mining from the beginning.
there was a constant search for i'm
proved methods of production. and as
result. the industry was Slowly trans
formed from one employing the hand
picked method to a mechanical in
dustry employing cutting machines.
machines for drilling and hauling, and
other machines electrically driven.
This transformation slowly but surely
reduced the miners hours, and their
work time per year did not increase.
The trend at present is toward me-
chanical mining, TO the exclusion OF
the old hand type, and this led in
1885 to still further reduction in hours
of the workers fixed by wage agree
ment at seven hours. The per capita
production, due to new machinery. is
constantly increasing. with a steady
decrease in the number of purposes
for which the coal is used or its con-
sumption.
The average work time now in the
Industry is about % hours a week,
which does not differ greatly from
that Of the early days Shortening of
hours has not increased the work time
per year because the per capita pro-
duction is increasing and the per
capita consumption is declining The
industry at present faces the compe-
tition Of other sources of power, such
as gas oil and hydroelectric.
"THROUGHOUT the years and un-
til recently the miners have
been compelled to fight their own
battles. to organize to protect their
own interests. They were standing
alone But after so years OF expert
ence, l believe the greatest thing that
has come to the miners is that which
they themselves created-their own
union-the United Mine Workers Of
America Through this agency. legis-
lation looking toward improved meth
ods has been brought about. meaning
the promotion Of safety and reduction
Of hazards that occur in coal mining
Coal mining is the most hazard
GUS Of all American industries. In
my opinion. the National Bituminous
Coal Commission. created by Congress.
can render its greatest service to this
Nation in the reduction Of hazards
incident to mining The cost OF mine
accidents both TO workers and prop
erty, aggregates approximately Is cents
q ton for every ton of coal produced
And as We are now producing almost
five hundred millions OF tons of bitum-
anthracite, which is just as hazard
Gus, the staggering cost of accidents
can be estimated The coal consumer
bears the burden of this cost. and pays
j on every ton Of coal consumed If
the National Bituminous Coal Com
mission can reduce hazards and save
this enormous sum for the American
consumer. the act of Congress in
drafting and passing this bill will have
been worth while
The history of mining, with it,
intensely competitive relationships
has convinced every thinking mar
experienced in the industry that il
needs an industrial or vertical union
where all employees in and around the
mines belong to one organization
Workers cannot meet the problems o.
TO-DAY on any other basis. when mas,
production and mechanization hav,
complicated our problems. Only thos,
VINO have engaged in mining, whC
nave personally endured the bitter
experiences and travail of the in.
oustry, can realize what unionizatior
can mean TO the workers 1t ha.
oiazed the trail for what happines.
has come into the lives of our miners
COMMISSIONER TETLOWS ex,
periences have not, despite a life.
long association with If, been confined