The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-06-22

contract between miners and oper-
ators, but said the miners would
work for the government.
Neither Ickes nor Lewis would
hint about the details of their talks,
but spokesman for Ickes revealed
that officials of the solid fuels ad-
ministration already had discussed
permanent" operation of the mines
in case it should prove necessary.
The mines were seized by the gov
eminent, presumably on tempo
rary basis, after the strike of May
/.
1t was believed that Ickes was
given go-ahead by President
Roosevelt or War Mobilization Di-
rector James F. ByrneS before he
proceeded. Previously when Ickes
interviewed in the dispute, the WLB
blocked him with President Roose-
'velt's support so Lewis could not
succeed in by-passing the board.
Even after yesterdays conference,
one of Ickes' aides reiterated that
the WLB still retained jurisdiction
over the wage dispute.
Earlier, Wayne L. Morse, WLB
public member and compliance off,
Ger, said that not only Lewis but
"All the agencies of government
were bound by the boards directive,
subject to such action as the pres
ident may wish to take
Hence, any agreement between
Ickes and Lewis presumably must
be within the limitations of the
WLB order unless President Roose-
welt directs otherwise. Any presiden-
tial action upsetting the board or
der would be tantamount to junk
ing the board, inasmuch as the
members would resign, or to scrap
ping the present wage sterilization
policies.
Although Ickes would appear to
be barred from stepping outside the
board order, he still might discuss
settlement of the union demand for
underground travel pay. The WLB
ignored that issue in its order last
week, saying that the union claims
under the Wage-hour law repre-
sented legal question. 1t would be
poWerless to enforce any decision
unless both parties accepted the
ruling, the board said.
| Under the WLB order, any settle
ment of the travel pay dispute
would be subject to board approval
The board has indicated that the
union demand of $1.30 is far in ex-
cess of any amount which could be
claimed under the wage-hour law.
When the UNIV rejected the
WLB contract, it emphasized that
it still considered the issue a SUBJ
ject for negotiation. Ickes might
propose an investigation of traveI
time and seek a 'egal Interpretation
of the miners rights under the
wage-hour law.
The WLB replied late yesterday
to the UNIV charge that the
boards proposed wage pact was g
yellow dog contract. 1t said the
contract was the one accepted by
the union in 1941, modified by wage
concessions totaling about Is cents
daily.
The board cited comments from
United Mine Workers journal edi-
lions of 1941 praising the contract
then as 1.-THE greatest joint contract
ever enjoyed by the miners of the
world" The SiX-day week has raised
miners weekly earnings to an aver
age of $3.50, an increase of more
than so per cent over last year, the
board said.
I'VE were talking about a yellow
dog contract from the liberal stand
point of being forced to sign it, Q
union spokesman commented.
Washington, ~une %. (UP) -
The coal crisis appeared today to bt
driving the administration towart
its first advocacy OF. restrictive labol
legislation regardless of the fate O.
the pending ConlAally- Harness
Smith bill.
The latter bill, passed by con
gress last week, awaits President
signature or veto. Some of his mos
influential advisers favor a veto OF
grounds that the bill, in effect, woult
legalize the war time strike weapon
by setting up machinery whereof.
the national labor relations boart
could take a secret strike ballot.
A further argument against tn
bills is doubt in the executive brancl
that its application would compe
production - in this case OF Goa
The bills sponsors, however, cit
its penalties for any person promot
ing or encouraging q work stoppag
once the government has taken ovo
a defense industry.
There were indications from with