Imperial Valley press., 1943-05-03
Miners at Work
Under U.S.. Flau
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being remunerated Tor at least
part of the time it takes them to
reach and return from the scene OF
operations inside the mines.
Lewis called the l5-day truce in
the strike of $4,000 soft and hard
coal miners after a conference here
with Ickes yesterday.
Ickes. ii was said will insist that
the miners actually be operated SIX
days a week except where physical
obstacles intervene. There has been
a SiX-day agreement in the past,
but miners charged that it has not
been fully carried out.
President Roosevelt's order to
Ickes instructing him TO seize the
mines said that they would be re-
turned TO the operators when 1t
no longer serves the war interest
for the government to retain con-
troll. That would leave the way open
for Ickes to keep control as long as
necessary to maintain such an
agreement-even if this meant for
the duration of the war.
For as long as the government
retains control of the mines, it ap-
peared, the War Labor Board will
not be called on to settle the issue
as between the miners and the oper-
ators. Thus Lewis will successfully
have by-paSsed the agency whose
severeSt critic he has been.
At Lckes' suggestion, the Inter-
state Commerce Commission has
ordered soft coal in railroad cars
TO be delivered to consumers who
had less than Today supply on
hand. Similarly, it limited hard
coal deliveries to consumers with
less than a five-day supply.
These restrictions are now lifted
and regular deliveries to consignees
may be resumed.
PRESIDENT IRRITATED
There remained some evidence
] of irritation in the White House
over relations between the admin
iStratiOn and Lewis White House
/ Secretary Stephen T. Early said
official news of the l5-day truce
still had not been received there.
In the event the government in
sists on immediate resumption of
attempts to negotiate a contract
between miners and operators, deli
cate questions OF procedure would
have to be worked out A spokeS-
man for Ickes, however, said he
knew of no plans on Ickes part
to conduct any new wages negotla-
tions.
New contract negotiations are eX-
pec:ed TO be resumed tomorrow here
or in New York II seemed eStab-
. .nshed. however that lewis believed
e had freed himself and his un-
ion from Secretary of Labor Fran
ees Perkins certificatlon OF the coal
dispute tC the War Labor Board.
CALLS OFF STRIKE
Lewis called off the strike for
Is days after a Sunday conference
! here with Ickes. He announced the
truce just 20 minutes before Mr.
Roosevelt broadcast warning ap-
peal TO strikers that production
must continue. The President de-
livered his address without signifi-
cant alteration and a White House
eDokesman insisted he had no pre-
vious knowledge OF the l5-day truce
ncr any official word from Lewis.
The latter, however, insisted that
he truce was agreed upon in his
conference with Ickes and that sub
,eouent terms were discussed.
Coal will be mined no matter
what any individual thinks about
it." Mr.. Roosevelt said in his ad-
dress which all but named Lewis as
an obstructor of the war effort. He
allied on patriotic miners to re-
sumo production, promising that
hey and their families would be
protected ~ the army.
Lewis, announcing the truce to
reporters in New York, PITT great
emphasis upon the idea that seiz-
ure of the mines had given the
miners a new employer-the United
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