Evening star., 1943-05-19
Coal Wage Dispute
Rests in Hands Of
WLB Facf-Finders
Ickes Informs Lewis
He Lacks Authority to
Order Negotiations

By the Associated Press.
The Nations soft coal wage
dispute today rested in the hands
of a three man fact finding
panel of the War Labor Board.
The panels report is due some
time this week 1t will be followed
by full Labor Board decision in the
case before May 81, expiration date
the industry has been operating
without a contract-since a Nation
wide weekend work stoppage the
first of this month. The report will
be only factual, and in accordance
with board instructions, will contain
no recommendations.
Then, once again, the question will
be whether John L. Lewis and his
United Mine Workers will accept
the boards ruling.
There was no sign today that the
UNIV president had altered his
stand against the board-Which he
termed prejudiced-despite the ad-
n1inistration's reiteration last night
that the dispute was strictly under
WLB jurisdiction. The miners seek
S2-a-day basic wage increase, under
ground travel pay and other con-
cessions in new contract.
Ickes Emphasizes WLB Authority.
The UNIV has consistently re-
fused to be represented on the panel
or to attempt pleading its case be-
fore it.
Secretary of the Interior Ickes
acting in his capacity as fuel ad-
ministrator and boss of the Gov
ernment-operated coal mines, last
night told Mr.. Lewis in a letter that
any contract settling the dispute
must have the approval of the War
Labor Board"
In New York, Mr. Lewis, after
reading the text of the letter, par
ried all questions with, Il wouldn't
have any comment on that at the
present time"
Mr.. Lewis would not comment
on the effect the Ickes statement
would have on the extension of the
current truce in the coal mines, but
it was recalled that he had repeated
many times before that "the miners
have never broken promise" and
it was believed that the truce would
continue to May 81 as planned.
Mr.. Lewis also replied mo COM
ment" to questions concerning his
plans for the next few days.
When word of the letter reached
the coal fields, a mass meeting of
miners employed in three mines
near JohnstoWn, Pa, voted to walk
out-marking the first break away
from Mr.. Lewis truce pledge. Ap-
proximately 1900 men work in the
affected pits, where the regular
midnight shift did not report.
Lewis Evans, a member of the
District Johnstown- -Altoona)
Board of the UNIV, said he had
been unable to persuade the men to
continue working until May 81 as
Mr.. Lewis ordered Yesterday.
They SAID they were dissatisfied
with the way the negotiations be-
tween the union and operations are
going and shouted no contract, no
work" Mr.. Evans said.
The miners, members of Manly
Clio Local 1886, are to meet again
Sunday. The mines affected are the
Heisley of the Monroe Coal Co.,
Cardiff of the Imperial Coal Co
and Springfield of the Springfield
Coal Co.
Another $50 miners in that area
went on strike today. declaring they
we're dissatisfied with the contract
dispute status and I'VE want some
action" This closed another mine
and raised to 2,750 the total of men
now idle.
However, elsewhere there was no
immediate reaction to Mr.. Ickes'
letter. 1t was addressed to Mr.. Lewis
after Mr.. Ickes conferred with
Sterilization Director James F..
Byrnes and WLB Chairman William
H. Davis. during which time reported
differences between Mr.. Ickes and
the board were said to have been
discussed and presumably settled.
1t was sent in reply to the mine
leaders Monday message extending
the truce from midnight last night
to the emo of the month, which in
turn had responded to Mr.. Ickes'
plea for assurance that there would
be no walkout.
The exchange had mentioned
plans for collective bargaining con-
ferences." which led to reports Mr..
1ckes was going to take the initia-
tive in the dispute and brought a
WLB statement that mo other
agency of Government" was author
tied to act in the case.
Earlier yesterday, two public
members of the WLB, Wayne L.
Morse and Frank P. Graham, con-
through Presidential Secretary Mar
win Mcintyre
Board members reiterated that a
fact-finding panel is proceeding
with it's report on the coal case and
plans to complete it this week.
Tension between Mr.. Ickes and the
WLB developed over reports that
the fuels administrator was going to
take the initiative in settling the
dispute This tension was made more
acute by the exchange of kilograms
between Mr.. Ickes and Mr.. Lewis
Monday.
Mr. Ickes asked Mr.. Lewis to give
him assurances that coal production
would be continued after midnight
last night. and added: Il express
the hope that by this action the way
will be opened for immediate collec-
tive bargaining conferences"
Mr.. Lewis replied that the miners
were Impressed with the fact -
that you hope to be able to insti-
tute Immediately the collective bar
gaining which we have long been
awaiting ."
Instructions from Mr.. Ickes to the
operators to renew negotiations with
Mr.. Lewis would be taken by the
board as directly contrary to its