Evening star., 1943-10-22

Attendance at motion picture
the2terS in Buenos Aires, Argentina
IN three months of this year totaled
nearly 6,700000. compared with
$500 600 in the same period of 1912
needs if the mine workers will work,
and If they won't work no length of
work day will produce the necessary
tonnage"
I He added that with the 83-cent
gain in miners earnings in the Ap-
palachlan area, his proposal would
result In an increase in cost of coal
a ton of from l01a cents to IA cents.
Under the proposed Illinois agree
ment coal prices would rise so cents
a ton, he declared.
Burke Assails Contract.
MI Burke, terming the Illinois
contract the worst proposal yet
placed before this board" said it
would REQUIRE radical and revolu-
tlonary change in the long -estab-
llshed method of computing pay.
Mr.. Ireland and Mr. Burke testi-
fed that the Illinois agreement
deals with less than 6la per cent
of the Nations production, and
Joined in expressing similar reasons
for their opposition to it, as follows.
!. 1T is subterfuge to cover a
wage increase in clear violation OF
the Stabllizatlon program.
. "Jtc ornroyo1 ,,o,,lJ ~
DESTROY the whole effort to control
imitation since every labor organiza-
ton in the country would demand
similar increases and also coal
prices would be raised considerably
3. The contract will not increase
production in the Appalachian area,
but on the contrary will cause a
reduction, because of the chaos
which would result in the industry"
June Decision Cited.
Mr.. Burke argued that the board
has already decided against the
principle of pay for underground
travel time, in a decision last June,
but Mr.. Davis replied:
1T is ridiculous to assume that
the earlier decision was against
portal -to-portal pay, because we
never have had real program pre-
Sented to consider before this. The
Illinois contract is the first time it
has been presented to us"
An announcement that President
Roosevelt would have new cost-of-
living study made came from labor
officials following a two-hour con-
ference at the White House yester-
day, at which William Green, presi-
dent of the American Federation OF
Labor, told reporters that the Presl-
dent had been informed of the
widespread dissatisfaction that pre-
walls among railroad workers and
others over the decisions made by
Economic Stabiliza ton Director Vim
SON.
Mr.. Green also voiced strong OBJ
lection to the powers exercised by
Mr.. Wilson's Office. declaring there
ought to be "a better method and
a better way of accomplishing
stabilization. He said he was not
.objecting to Mr.. Vinson personally.
The labor leaders who saw the
President also included Philip Muir
ray, CIO president; Mr.. Whitney and
other members of the CIO and AFL,
who comprise the Presidents spe-
cial Labor War Board.
Little Steel Formula Discussed.
Both Mr.. Whitney and Mr.. Muir
ray said the little steel formula was
discussed at great length. with the
latter saying. I'VE urged its modifi-
caticn, contending it was unwork-
able and mpracticable. and that in
the light Of increases that have
taken place in the cost of living
since September of last year, greater
leeWay should be given the War La
Dor Board to compensate American
workers for losses sustained by in
creases in the cost of living"
The Little Steel formula is the
cornerstone of the War Labor
oRards wage sterilization policy. 1t
bars a general wage increase of
mere than Is per cent above the
level of January 1,'1941, except un-
der special circumstances.
Reminded that the same labor
group had been coming in period
ically to see Mr. Roosevelt and COM
plain about living costs, Mr. Murray
was asked whether any progress at
all had been made in the confer
ences to date.
Assaiis Sterilization Failure"
! so far as l am able to observe. "
lie replied, no progress has been
made up to the present moment
! in rolling hack prices. 1t was our
understanding months ago that the
stabilization program of the Presi-
dent would be carried out. Un-
fortunately. the only feature that
has been made effective is that of
freezing wages"
The incorporating rail unions,
Spokesmen said, proposed to give
their membership a complete ac-
count of the wage situation. The
President named another board to
review this case, last Saturday, but
the unions have not decided yet if
they will present their case to this
group, whose right to sit is chal-
lenged in some quarters.
Certain union officials are re-
ported to feel that the Railway
Labor Act, under which their wage
cases are handled. has been showed
aside by the appointment of the
special board. representatives of
the unions will go before the board
for a conference Thursday, but it
has been made clear that this does
not mean that they will argue their