Evening star., 1943-06-25
President Bars UNIV
Time Limit as WLB
Insists on Contract
Labor Board Appeals
To Byrnes to Force
New Cool Agreement
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
President Roosevelt said today
he would not recognize or accept
an October 81 deadline set by the
United Mine Workers for con-
tlnued coal production in Gov
ernment-operated mines.
The Chief Executive told a press
conference he was merely trying to-
see that coal was mined and that
this had to be done some way. He
added that many of us get aWay
from the fact We are at war and
the life of a Nation is very much at.
stake.
Meanwhile, the War Labor Board
went to War Mobilization Director
James F. Byrnes today with a stern.
request that the Government COM
pei John L. Lewis and the United
Mine Workers TO comply fully with
the boards order or that punish-
ment be imposed.
Only Owners Penalized.
Board members told Mr.. Byrnes
tnat the country largest corpora
tlons, United States Steel lin the
Federal shipbuilding case) and Cen
eral Motors, complied with WLB Or
ders, however reluctantly, but that
IN the coal case only the operators
nave been penalized. Their mines
nave been seized. though they are
ready to obey The WLB.
Full compliance would mean the
signing Of two-year contract con-
tanning pledge not to strike for
the duration of the war. The con-
tract handed down by the WLB
would permit reopening of the wage
clauses in the interim, but otherwise
1t is the 1941-1943 Appalachian
agreement plus some concessions.
such as higher vacation payments
and free tools and equipment.
WLB members said penalties
against the miners were not intend
ed, but that the union. as such,
should be brought to book for de-
hance. The penalties might take
the form Of suspension of the dues
checkoff or freezing of the UNIV
treasury.
Board Decision Final.
The board also made plain that 70
has finally determined the contro-
verSy between the miners and the
operators and all that remains is a
matter of enforcement. This was
taken to mean that retroactive lia-
bilitieS against the operators are no
longer accruing, unless. of course,
the miners sue successfully in court
| fer portalto-portal pay under the
wage and hour law.
| The WLB demand for Mr.. Lewis
| signature on contract pointed up
the long g-standing difference in out
look between its members and Fuel
Administrator Ickes, the only Gov
ernment agent Mr.. Lewis has rec
ognized as having any authority.
Mr.. IckeS, boss of the mines under
Federal operation. told reporters he
could see no way to make any "pri-
vate individual or group sign an
agreement and, when asked if he
favored a law that would compel
them to do so, expressed doubt that
any legislative group would pass one
or that it would be constitutional.
The demand for signing of a for
NAL contract seemingly was intended
to demonstrate full recognition Of
the War Labor Boards authority
but the miners were expected to
balk.
Mr.. Lewis and his men contend
they are working for the Govern
ment-not the private operators
and the back-to-work order that was
to end the third shutdown in the
coal fields was issued by Mr.. Lewis
with the proviSo that Government
operation of the mines continue.
Board Explains Stand.
The 1941 contract. which the
board reinstated after denying the
wage demands of the miners. has
been assailed by Mr.. Lewis now as
a yellow dog agreement.
The WLB, in a brief statement
late yesterday said the labor dis
pute had been determined finally
when it directed the 521 900 strikes
to accept substantially the terms of
the old contract, plus a few WLB
concessions that added up to pay
raises of about 20 cents day. Hence,
the board figured that a new con-
tract on that basis should be signed.
This stand was announced after
Mr. Ickes, in summoning owners to
conference today had referred to
the controversy between the mine
workers and the operators" and ex-
pressed hope it would be settled
speedily.
Immediately the WLB shot back
that it had made the final deter
mination of the dispute and as far
as it was concerned, there wasn't
any controversy.
| Meanwhile MIR. IckeS indicated he
believed it would be necessary for
the Government not only to continue
but to enlarge on its operations of
! the coal workings
20.000,000 Tons Lost.
He said the loss of coal production
estimated at 100000 tons re-
sulting from the three walkoutS-
may bring on rationing of fuel.
Such rationing, or ALLEGATION, prob
ably would be confined to the short
age areas, he said, rather than on
Nationwide scale.
Mr.. IckeS said also he was think
ing about the long-range angle in
fc,.z 80