Evening star., 1943-11-19
Solid Fuels Office Acts
To Level Distribution
Of Soft Coal Supply
,y the Associated Press.

! BY the Associated Press.
New bituminous coal distribution
regulations designed to divert a
larger share of production to do
mestic heating purposes have been
issued by the Solid Fuels Admins
| tration.
The STA said yesterday that re-
cent work stoppages at the mines,
combined with the increasing coal
requirements of war industry, had
created bituminous shortage max
ing the regulations necessary.
The program, which becomes ef-
fective December /. requires that
most industrial plants and railroads
having Is days coal supply In
storage, and public utilities having
40 days requirements on hand, re-
duce their current orders to rs per
cent or less of monthly burning re-
quirements.
The STA estimated that the stock
limitation will free approximately
100000 tons each month to move
through retail dealers to domestic
consumers and industrial users with
w-standard stocks.
Owners Meet Lewis.
Operators representing majority
of the soft coal tonnage met, mean
time, for a third day of confer
ences with President John L. Lewis
of the United Mine Workers on a
wage contract, and those not joining
in the conferences came under criti-
cism from Secretary of Interior
Ickes, operator of the mines for the
Government.
Mr.. Ickes took to task particularly
the representatives of the captive
mines, as those owned by steel COM
panies are called. This group has
declined to join the conferences
with Mr.. Lewis.
The (steeD industry alone causes
more trouble than any other indus
try" Mr.. Ickes declared at a press
conference. They underproduce
(coaD and come down here with
tears in their eyes and say for
heavens sake get us some more
metallurgical COAL"
Harry M Moses, vino mas acted as
spokesman for the captive mines in
previous negotiations, commented in
reply to Mr.. Ickes:
When it is clear that the proper
governmental agencies are in accord
as to the effect of the recent agree
ment between the United Mine
Workers and the coal administrator
upon their situation, feel confident
that the captive coal mine operators
will de everything within their power
to conclude this extended contro-
versy."
Mr.. Moses issued the statement in
his capacity as president of the H. c.
Frick Coke Co., a United States
Steel Corp. subsidiary.
Southerners Wait on WLB.
The Southern Coal Producers AS
sociation, representing more than
20 per cent of the Nations bitumin-
Gus tonnage, agreed conditionally
today to join the wage conference.
I'VE are perfectly willing" an
association spokesman said, ito par
ticipate after the War Labor Board
has handed down it's decision on
those points that are still in ques-
ton" He said his group wanted to
know "just what we are talking
about"
An answer was expected today
from the WLB on the still unsettled
points of that agreement. These in
volve the application of increased
earnings to pieceworkers and outside
employees. The boards approval of
the Government contract two weeks
ago required Mr.. Ickes to resubnit
pay formula for these workers,
which he did.
Mr.. Ickes defended, too, his nego-
tiation with Mr.. Lewis of a tempo
rary wage agreement at time when
the miners were on strike. This
agreement allows miners $150 a day
increased earnings, and Mr.. Lewis
has indicated he hopes to get some
thing similar in a contract with the
owners.
Il was trying to settle strike,
and I did," Mr.. Ickes said. II was
told to negotiate contract and to
i y ! -s,~s