Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-03-13
b. the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
NEW YORK, March l3-The Ma
tons bituminouS coal miners and
operators reached a temporary i'm
paSse today in their efforts to reach
an agreement replacing the one ex-
piring March 81, but John L. Lewis,
head of the United Mine Workers
of America &c. I. o., proposed
there be no work stoppage pending
q settlement of differences.
Mr.. Lewis made his proposal at
the biennial joint conference of
union and management representa-
tives from the eight-State Appala-
chan area in order to allay any
public apprehension concerning the
possibility of suspension of min
ing operations in the bituminous
coal industry due to the expiration
of existing wage agreements"
Earlier, the operators rejected
union demands for a blanket sl-a-
day wage increase, a position which
brought immediate denunciation
from Mr. Lewis.
Mr.. Lewis suggested in his pro-
posal for a resolution against a work
stoppage-Such as occurred two
years ago when a prolonged dead
lock reSulted-that if, after March
81, any increase in wages or i'm
provement in conditions were agreed
on, it be retroactive.
No Action on Proposal.
Mr.. Lewis said it was the War
Departments desire that important
and vital defense industries keep
working without interruption.
The conference adjourned until
afternoon without acting on Mr..
Lewis proposal, following the pre-
Sentation OF the operators rejection
of a wage increase and Mr.. Lewis
reply.
The operators had said that the
wage demand would raise sharply
the cost of coal, proposed that the
present tWo-year contract covering
wages and employment conditions
for $4,000 miners be extended for
another two years and suggested
consideration of a 40 or AZ hour
week to replace the present 35-hour
schedule.
Mr.. Lewis said the miners thor
oughly reject any theory that the
mounting tax cost on industry
justifies Withholding wage in
creases" and said that if the miners,
together with other Americans, were
going to be called upon to aid suf-
fering peoples in other countries,
mark you well, these shrunken
bellies in America are going to have
TO be filled"
Denies Cost Is EXorbitant.
Mr.. Lewis said that estimates of |.
Increased cost, which the operators |
said would result from the miners
demands, were exorbitant.
1t was a moral certainty" he
added, that taxes would increase
rapidly, but that also it was a
physical certainty that our people
who work in the mines are going to
have to eat while these taxes are
being paid"
The present contract, expiring
Nd1III o4J P4OfAACo OO ddy 1OA
miners in Northern fields, $3.50 in
the South.
Speaking for the operators, Charles
O'Neill, president of the United
Eastern Coal Sales Corp. said that
If national defense needs changed
conditions in the industry as to price
and production, the operators and
miners could make necessary ad-
justments in their agreement at
later date.
Prompt Action Urged.
It was of primary necessity" the
operators said, that the conferees
act promptly in reaching a new
agreement and to keep the mines
operating to assure the public of
suficient coal without interruption
and without the imposition of I'M
reasonable burdens on the people"
The operators also suggested that
the joint conference consider in
creasing the work week from IS
hours five 7-hour days to 40 hours
GIVE 8-hour days. or, as an alterna-
tive during the emergency produc-
tion period" to ~ hours (six 7-hour
days..
The union had been expected to
geek a 30-hour week but did not do
70. 1t reserved the right, however,
10 take up the question later.