Evening star., 1943-08-14
Survey Of Coal Mines
Begun With View 10
Restoration 10 Owners
Rf the Associated Press.

fBt the Associated Press.
Secretary of Interior Ickes an
fcunced today that the Coal
Mines Administration has begun
surveying the efficiency of a
large number OF coal mines, look
ing toward their release from
Government control.
Deputy Coal Administrator Carl
T. Newton reported that relatively
few operators had formally re-
provided under the Antistrike Act
He said the mines being surveyed
include those of companies which
have not filed requests. along with
the few which have done so.
The Antistrike Act provides the
Government must restore possession
of seized war plants and facilities
To their owners as soon as practic-
able after restoration of the pro-
ductive efficiency which prevailed
before strike threat developed,
but in any event not longer than
so days after such restoration.
Managers to Report.
The Federal managers of the
mines being surveyed were in
suucted to report the average daily
production of each mine for each
week since April !, and also were
told to give their opinion whether
productive efficiency had been fully
restored.
Meanwhile, the War Manpower
Commission had under study" a
request from Mr.. Ickes to release
anthracite miners from the armed
forces in order to step up produc-
tien of the fuel
The Secretary said last night he
had asked for the release of soldier
miners, but did not disclose how
many would be needed.
Ale also recommended release of
servicemen to provide coal for the
Pacific Northwest, a soft-coal- burn
ing area.
A spokesman for the United Mine
Workers said about Is 900 anthracite
miners had gone either into the
jobs in the last 18 months.
a. The WING, officials said, can only
make recommendation to the armed
forces to release men, The final
decision will be up to the military
authorities.
The move to release miners was
promptly countered by a contention
of the United Mine Workers that
production now exceeds require
ments.
. Although Mr.. Ickes termed pres
ent coal production far below ade-
ouate despite gradual increases in
recent weeks. the Mine Workers
journal, official organ of John L.
Lewis union. contended "a large
number" of domestic anthracite
CONSUMERS were better stocked than
a year ago.
The Journal said the anthracite
regions mad suffered a manpower
reduction OF 1883 in the last year
and half and warned of an addi-
'tional labor drainage unless the op-
orators, the miners and Govern
Tnent agencies get together on
Legitimate, sizable wage increase"
: Mr.. Ickes' decision to seek Army
release of the anthracite miners
was prompted by telegraphic ap-
peal from the Vermont State Coal
Committee which said Vermonters
faced 'precarious predicament"
because of an anthracite shortage.
Mr.. Ickes told the committee that
Representatives of both operators
and mine workers are cooperating
with me in the objective of achiev-
ing maximum possible production
OF coal in the present difficult cir
cumstances arising out of the lack
OF, a work contract between opera
tors and mine workers, with con-
sequent bitterness and confusion
throughout the coal mining in
dustry"
He said anthracite production, al
though still far from adequate, is
creeping steadily upward, but added
he could not 'foretell what would be
the effect upon production in the
above mentioned circumstances if
no wage agreement that is accept
able to the War Labor Board is
executed by the time that the Coal
Mines Administration acts under
the mandate of the Smith-Connally
Antstrike Act, to return mines to
their owners"
Mr.. Ickes observed that he had
no power to penalize absenteeism,
as the committee had requested,
and was convinced threats of pen
atty actually would result in the
production of less, rather than