Evening star., 1943-05-03
Studies on Coal
lobe Resumed
By WLB Panel
Work Will Stort
When Mines Return
To Full Production
Earlier Stories on Page A-1.)

Earlier Stories on Page A-1.)
Members of the War Labor
Board said today that the special
three-man fact-finding panel
assigned to study the dispute be-
tween coal operators and the
United Mine Workers would re-
sumo its work as soon as normal
production is restored in the
mines, now being run by the
Government.
The special panel of the WLB was
set up more than a week ago. after
the case had been certified to the
board, to investigate the facts and
to make recommendations to the full
board. The panel has not yet heard
from the union side, but if it desires
additional information to complete
It's study the panel may ask the full
board to name union spokesman
to supply additional data.
1t is not expected in War Labor
Board circles that Secretary of the
Interior Ickes or UNIV President
John L. Lewis will appear before
the panel. Their testimony, it was
explained, would not be essential to
finding of facts on the situation.
Mr.. Lewis has. from the start, op-
posed the WLB having anything to
do with the case Mr.. Ickes. as Solid
Fuels Co-ordinator, is running the
mines for the Government.
Cooke Heads Panel.
One board member said in reply
to a question about the panel that
"it reactivates itself" The panel,
headed by Morris L. Cooke, Phila-
delphia engineer. suspended sessions
last week in accordance with WLB
policy not to consider the merits of
dispute when production is inter-
rupted
An agreement between the dis
putants would end the need of a
fact-flnding panel and it would end
its work. However, President Roose-
Velt has said. such an agreement
would need WLB approval
One member of the board said
You can say as forcefully as you
like that the board is not going to
relinquish any rights. This will be
handled according to the usual pro-
cedure"
Mr.. Ickes telegraphed Federal
managers of all coal mines to op-
crate their stores or commissaries in
strict compliance with Federal price
regulations.
At the same time. he requested
Price Administrator Prentiss Brown
to furnish any evidence developed
on violations of price regulations
while the mines are under Govern
ment control
Up to Federal Managers.
Responsibility for compliance with
the regulations was placed on the
Federal managers, former mine op-
orators who we're retained in their
jobs as agents of the Government
Meanwhile, Mr.. Ickes conferred
more than an hour with members
of his staff, but spokesman said
VIZ aiSSdoSioii Nuo SoillliiCo 70 uo-
ministrative problems dealing with
personnel and organiza ton for op-
Grafton of approximately $3.50 coal
mining properties in more than 20
States.
Brig. Gen. David C. McCoach, jr.,
liaison officer for the War Depart
ment. sat in on the staff conference,
but an official said this had no
significance" since Gen McCoach is
"a member of the staff
There was no mention of nego-
tiations of a new contract with the
United Mine Workers, the spokes-
man said, adding that he knew of
no meeting or prospective meeting
by Mr.. Ickes with coal operators or
UNIV representatives.
He would say only tnat Mr. Ickes
would continue to operate the mines
until there is no longer danger of
a halt in coal production
The spokesman said that although
the freeze of coal in transit has been
Cancelled, Mr.. Ickes' appeals for con-
servation in the use of coal still 60. =