The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-06-08
BY RAYMOND LAIR

| (Unlted Press Staf Correspondent
Washington, June 8-UP)-Ap-
palachian coal operators and John
l.. Lewis United Mine Workers re-
sumed conferences today with the
operators appearing gloomy over
the prospects for an agreement.
Edward r. Burke, chairman of
the southern operators, reiterated
that he thought the case would be
sent back to the War Labor Board
He said there was always a
chance" Of an agreement but added
that the prospects were not "en-
couraging."
Asked if he subscribed to Burke's
position, Charles O'Neill, spokes-
man for the northern operators,
said 1--WE haven't decided"
The negotiations meeting was
scheduled at the insistence of the
union. An authoritative source re-
ported that the operators desired
to return the case to the War Labor
Board Immediately, but the miners
refused.
The board specified last month
in ordering resumption of nego-
tiations that If no agreement was
reached after Is days that both
parties should report for further in
Structions. The 15-day deadline ex-
pireS tomorrow.
The operators consistently have
sought to get a War Labor Board
settlement, but Lewis and his min
ers consistently have refused to
deal with the board. They contend
that the board has prejudged the
case. The miners have set new
deadline of June 20 for negotiating
new contract.
The principal point in dispute
Is the amount of portal to portal
pay the miners should get Edward
r. Burke, president of the south
ern operators, said that 1.-THE way
1t looks now we will report to the
board that no agreement appears
possible on the portal to portal
issue"
Charles O'Neill spokesman for
the northern operators, was report
ed ready to offer the miners 81 a
day for their underground travel
time and to talk about the matter
further. Lewis has offered to set
tie for $1.50 pending an investiga-
ton by an impartial commission. AS
suggested by Solid Fuels Administra-
tor Harold l.. IckeS.
Burke and Harry Moses, spokeS-
men for the captive mine operators,
have refused to bulge from their
original position, however, that the
miners were entitled to a maximum
of 48 minutes portal to portal pay
about 80 cents day.
While there was some disagree
ment reported between the south
ern and northern groups, 1t was
understood that in their conferences
with the miners they maintained a
united front.
Indications were earlier that an
agreement was likely to be reached
soon. Prospects Of a speedy agree
ment seemed to be improved yester-
day when the UNIV and the Hi
nois Coal Operators association an
nounced that they had reached a
tentative agreement on portal 10
portal settlement a Lewis figure OF
$150 day.
Moses, an official OF coal mining
subsidiaries Of u. S. Steel, said his
company would not be bound by the
Illinois agreement, and threatened
to resign from the Illinois Coal OPP
orators Association.
u. S. Steel employees about 900 Il
linois miners. Illinois is not in the
Appalachian district directly in
volved in the contract negotiations
but invariably abides by the APP
plachian contract provisions. Of
ficials of the UNIV predicted a
similar agreement will be reached
between miners and operators in
Indiana.
The Illinois agreement, UNIV Of
ticials said. must be approved by the