Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-03-20
BY the Associated Press

Northern Appalachian bitumin-
Gus coal operators have sent a
telegram to the White House, but
a spokesman declined to say to-
day whether an appeal had been
made to President Roosevelt to
intervene in negotiations here
with the United Mine Workers
for a new contract.
Asked during a luncheon recess
whether a telegram had been sent
to the White House, Charles ONeill,
spokesman for the Northern OPP
orators, confirmed that telegram
had been sent, but said that he could
not reveal its contents now.
With II days remaining before
expiration of the present contract
on March 81, both the operators
and the union representatives said
in separate statements during the
past two days that they were far
apart on the issues.
Fear Time Is Too Short.
The union proposed today that
negotiations extend until May l
with the proviso that any agree
ment reached be retroactive to April
l, saying "in view of the divergence
of opinion" additional time was
needed.
John L. Lewis, UNIV president,
said earlier this week that without
contract the miners would not
trespass on the operators property
April l. He is seeking, among other
things, a 81 a day wage increase
for 100000 union members.
The Northern operators said in
statement yesterday that the claims
and counterclaims ARE so great
there is not sufficient time between
now and the expiration of the pres
ent wage agreement" to study data
and establish facts.
The proposal the union made to-
day was described by union spokes-
man as move to avert a stoppage
Of mining should no agreement be
reached before March 81.
Conflict of Opinion Cited.
The proposal said that lin view
of the divergence of opinion at this
conference. we are conscious that
additional time is needed for nego-
tiation beyond the date of March
81 and continued:
That, pending continued nego-
tiations all mines in the Appalach-
ian coal producing area remain in
operation for a period of 30 days,
from April l, under existing basic
district and supplemental agree
ments with the understanding that
an increase in wages or improve
ment in hours or working conditions
later agreed upon shall be computed
and apply retroactively from the
date of April l, 1943"
Yesterday the UNIV Policy Com
mlttee offered soft coal opera
tors in districts outside the Appa-
lachian area a retroactive agreement
under which work would continue in
their mines in the event of shut
down in the Appalachian fields
April !.
Adopted Unanimously.
By a unanimous vote the commit
tee adopted resolution embody-
ing these terms K c. Adams
editor Of the UNIV journal, esti-
mated that should an Appalachian
fields tie-up develop, the resolution
would permit work by an estimated
/ l25, 900 men, enough to produce l60,-
| 100000 tons of bituminous coal an
nually. He estimated the countrys
| annual production at 100000, 900
/ tons.
/ The committees resolution would
allow uninterrupted production in
! the coal producing areas of Ala
/ bama, Southern Tennessee, Oakla-
homa Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri.
West Kentucky overlapping In
/ diana, Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, Colo
RADIO, New Mexico Wyoming, Mon
tana, Utah and Washington.
The resolution would empower
| officers of bituminous districts out
side the Appalachian conference to
/ negotiate temporary agreements.
The existing wage scale would be
extended from April /, the resolu-
ton said, with the understanding
that any wage increases or changed
conditions finally agreed to in the
Appalachian area will be binding
upon the operators OF the OUTLYING
QlstrlctS, retroactive to April l, l943."