Evening star., 1943-04-16
Roosevelt Price Order
Can't Halt Initiation,
Says Mine Journal
Southern Operators Again
Call on Miss Perkins
To Certify Wage Dispute
BY The Associated Press.

By The Associated Press.
NEW YORK, April 16-The
United Mine Workers Journal said
today in an editorial that the Pres
ident's order on prices and wages
may impede temporarily but will
not stop the onward march of inf1a-
ton"
The Journal, official organ of the
UNIV, asserted editorially that ''if
we fail to maintain wages at a rate
commensurate for the working
man to enjoy an equality in the dis
tribution of our goods" the Nation
will go into IAN economic nose dive
and all the post war plans will go
for naught,"
I'VE will be back where we were
in 1882" the editorial continued
Even 1892 might look like a boom
year in comparison
Southern Appalachian bituminous
mine operators have charged that
Labor Secretary Perkins proposal
for a guaranteed siX-day work week
for soft coal miners is a violation of
the stabillzation program and the
order" of President Roosevelt.
Their statement was contained in
telegram sent Miss Perkins yester-
day by Edward R. Burke, president
of the Southern Coal Producers
Association. The Southern opera
tors again urged Miss Perkins to
certify the soft coal wage dispute to
the War Labor Board without
further delay"
Northern as we'll as Southern
bituminous mine operators, in sep
arate joint wage conferences with
the United Mine Workers, have re-
jected Miss Perkins recommended
ton. while John L. Lewis. UNIV
president. has accepted it in prin-
Ciple in lieu of the unions demand
for $2a-day basic wage boost.
Advanced by SteeIman.
The proposal advanced by DR.
John R Steelman. chief Federal
conciliator, on benalf of the Labor
Secretary. calls for time and a half
pay for all hours the Nations 450,-
600 soft coal miners work over 35
a week.
Mr.. Lewis, who said he under
stood the proposal would guarantee
a siX-day work week, 50 weeks
year, has estimated that overtime
payments accruing to miners over
a period Of a year would increase
their daily earnings 1925.
He also has announced that in
accepting the proposal III principle
the union was not abandoning its
other top demands, including daily
basic minimum Of s8, pay for all
time spent in the mines. including
travel time, and unionization OF
minor bosses.
Says Price Adjusted.
When the proposal was advanced
by Miss Perkins she said the price
of coal had been adjusted by OPA
10 carry the labor cost involved and
she added that she did not believe
the plan violated the Presidents
wage-freeze order.
Negotiations between the oper-
ators and the UNIV now are pro-
ceedmg on a 30-day extension Of the
contract which expired March 81.
SpokeSmen for Pennsylvania an
thracite operators and the UNIV.
meanwhile, reported that prelim-
mary discussions in their wage con-
ference have progressed satisfac-
tOrily and that no need exists for
governmental intervention.
Their statements were made yes
terday as the conference adjourned
until 80 pm. today.
Both sides also expressed the hope
that new contract can be nego-
tiated before expiration of the pres
ent agreement on April 80.
Others die for you; the least you
can do Is buy for them. Get your
War savings stamps now,