Evening star., 1943-11-10
Congress Action
Ito Avert Rail
Strike Expected
Coal Miners Seek
$40 Retroactive Pay
For TruveI Time

with SOFT coal miners demand-
ing, under the new wage agree
ment, lump sum of $40 each as
retroactive pay for underground
travel time between April / and
June 20, the Government was
worried today over the threat
ened strike Of 100000 railroad
workers, and congressional in
tervention to prevent the walk
out seemed increasingly likely.
The Government has not made up
its mind whether the coal miners
are entitled to the retroactive pay
ment. though the United Mine
Workers insist they are The coal
operators said they were not re-
quired to pay.
One baffled Government Official
called 1t delicate legal problem
which is under consideration The
demand threatened further trouble
IN the harassed bituminous coal
fields, and it was hoped in Govern
ment circles that the matter could
be disposed of before December |,
when one fourth of the $40 would
fall due under the miners inter-
probation.
Vinson Asked to Defend Action.
! Meanwhile, a Senate subcommit-
tee called on Economic Sterilization
Director Vinson to defend his order
rejecting the Scent AN hour wage
increase awarded by mediation
board to the IS incorporating rail-
road brotherhoods A Joint Senate
House resolution to override Mr..
Vinson and put the increase in effect
is before the subcommittee. Senator
johnson, Democrat, of Colorado
predicted approval of the resolution
unless Mr.. Vinson presents some
very sound reasons why we
shouldn't
At subcommittee hearing YES
terday, George M. Harrison, presi-
dent OF the Railway Clerks, one of
the largest of the brotherhoods in
volVed in the wage dispute, said
the heads of all the incorporating
! brotherhoods are ready to fix date
: for a strike on completion of vote
among the unions membership He
, pledged, however, that a Walkout
, would be put off until Congress had
had time TO act.
The strike ballot is due to be COM
pleted November Is and Mr.. Har-
rison indicated belief the workers
would authorize a Walkout.
Senator Reed, Republican. of
Kansas charged that Mr.. Vinson
had gone beyond the clear intent
of Congress in rejecting the Scent
: increase on the ground that it would
conflict with the Wage Sterilization
, Act.
The Sterilization Act specifically
: exempted the Railway Labor Act
from its provisions and the Con-
gress never intended to give the
executive branch authority to sus-
pend the machinery of the Rail-
way Act for settling wage disputes
Senator Reed said.
Carriers on Middle Ground.
A statement that the carriers,
which accepted the Scent award,
neither approve nor disapprove"
given to the committee yesterday by
{ Jacob Aronson, New York Central
vice president and counsel for the
. railroads in the wage case. He said,
however. it was managements belief
, that If Congress approved the res
/, olution the controversy would be
settled and there would be no
, remaining impediment to the agree
: ment (betWeen the railroads and
, the unlonS) going into effect"
Transcripts of testimony taken
during the last two days before the
Interstate Commerce Subcommittee
were sent to MI. Vinson with a re-
. quest that he appear in person or
: submit a statement of his views.
; Committee members said they ex-
| pected his reply by Monday The
i Stablllzation director, after his re-
/ lection OF the increase, approved q
! sliding scale wage boost proposed
by second board. but the workers
| termed this plan impractical and
unacceptable" 1t provided for in
creases from 10 cents an hour for
lower paid workers to cents for
those in the upper wage brackets.
) Interpretations Differ.
The agreement negotiated a few
days later by Secretary of the In
terror Ickes and UNIV President
John L. Lewis incorporated all
terms of the Illinois contract which
were not disapproved by the WLB,
but added the provision that Para
, graph l3 (the $40 payment of the
Illinois contract shall not be ap-
plicable to the Government"
The United Mine Workers con-
tend this simply means that the
retroactive pay should not come
from Government funds, as dis
tinguished from the industry bank
accounts from which wages are
paid
The National Coal Association has
sent contrary Interpretation to its
members, and leading operators
, have asked the War Labor Board
, to notify all parties concerned that
the $40 payment was eliminated.
Mr.. 1ckes could direct the op-
orators, who are managers of the
mines during Government opera
ton, to pay the $40, but there is
question in the minds of Mr.. Ickes'
legal advisers whether this would
result in claim or liability against
the Government after it terminated
|