Evening star., 1941-04-20


last ,Ueek that prolongdtion OF
tte-up 1Uould entail sharp curtdu-
ment OF steel production.
By the Associated Press.
President Roosevelt and his Sec
retary of Labor intervened, respec-
lively. yesterday in labor relations
problems of the shipbuilding and
coal mining industries, both vital
to national defense.
Secretary Perkins was rebuffed in
request for resumption of soft coal
production from Northern mines
next Tuesday.
The Chief Executive, at his HYDE
Park IN. " home. urged Pacific
Coast shipyard managers and work.
ers to ratify a coastwide master
contract for wages. Such an agree
ment would be effective for the
duration of the national emergency.
o. P. NJ. Originated Plan.
Through a secretary, Mr.. Roose-
velt said adoption of the plan-a
proposal of the Office of Production
Management-would result in
speeding up the whole shipbuilding
program and set a precedent for
Eastern yards.
The secretary, William D. Hassett,
said a tentative agreement had been
reached but that "a minority group
in Seattle is attempting to block
ratification
At Seattle. Machinists' Union
leader denied minority group"
would attempt to block the agree
ment
The President means US. Local
79 of the Machinists' Union"
commented l. A. Sandvigen, busi-
ness agent of the A. F. L. group,
but that is not correct. True. We
voted against accepting the
agreement, but it has always been
the policy of Local 79 to go along
with the majority If the ma
jority of metal trades councils on
the Coast accept the agreement,
so will We
Plea Made TO Coal Men.
Secretary Perkins appealed in the
name of national defense for an end
to the situation which has kept
400, 900 soft coal miners idle while
stocks of coal needed for defense
industries are dWindling.
She asked Northern operators and
the C. l. o. United Mine Workers
of America-the two had come to a
wage understanding in New York
conference.-the resume production
in Northern mines by next Tuesday.
She asked Southern soft coal oper-
ators, who walked out of the general
wage negotiations after a quarrel
over North-South wage differentials,
to undertake further negotiations
with the u M. w.
The Southern operators said they
would resume negotiations but that
they must be in Washington. U.
M. w. President John L. Lewis said
the miners would re-enter negotia-
tions, but the meeting must be at
New York. where details still we're
being discussed with Northern oper-
atorS
Lewis Rejects Proposal.
Mr.. Lewis turned down the Per-
kins proposal for separate operation
of Northern mines while talks with
the Southern operators proceeded.
Both the Northern operators and
Mr.. Lewis expressed the view that
the Government could help matters
by assisting in resumption of nego-
tiationS.
Another development bearing on
the coal situation was an announce
ment by Secretary Ickes that 1910
soft coal production costs averaged
18 cents a ton below averages used
by the Interior Department BIZ
luminous coal division in fixing
minimum prices.
In view of this, Secretary Ickes
said it was reasonable to expect"
that proceedings preliminary to
adjustments in the minimum price
levels might be opened soon. In
formally, it was suggested by others,
(See STRIKES, Page A-3