The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-02

shortage. They are:
 l. John L. Lewis has rejected the proposal of Hard Fuel Admin istrator Ickes to continue the present coal agreement for an- other year.
 2. Lewis has also rejected IckeS' proposal that negotiations for a new wage agreement begin earlier than March l, thus giving coal operators and miners more time to sign contract.
 3. Within a few weeks, Lewis gigantic United Mine Workers Union finally will be taken into the American Federation of Labor, at which time several AFL lead- CTS will back him in trying to break the Little Steel Formula on behalf of the miners.
 This latter point Is where
 CIO-AFL rivalry comes in. CIO
 Chief Phil Murray tried to up
 the Little Steel Formula on be.
 half of the steel workers, but
 failed. Now if the AFL, through
 John L. Lewis, can do what Phil
 Murray failed to do, even if it
 throws the entire country into
 an even more serious coal crisis,
 it will be regarded as a big
 victory.
 WHAT LEWIS WANTS
 What Lewis demands is a wage differential for miners working the second and third shift, plus $l.25 more daily for travel un- derground to and from the mouth of the mine, plus a straight wage increase.
 Last year it was recognized
 that the miners had suffered
 in comparison with wages paid
 in other industries. But this
 Economic Stabilizer VinsOn be-
 lieves the wage situation is more
 nearly balanced and Is fIatIy Op-
 posed to giving John l.. Lewis
 anywhere near what he Is de-
 manding. To do go would not only break the Little Steel For
 mula but shoot a gap In the dike against imitation. So it looks as if there will be a sure showdown on April 1.
 NOTE-The coal crisis points to one result of postponing decision on new Secretary of Labor. Miss Perkins is staying on the job "by request" her heart not in the work, and never able to cope with these big strikes. Mean while, some White House advisers suggest that various moves could be made in advance to head off John L. Lewis, such as bringing home several hundred decorated heroes who live in mine areas, and who could impress the min CTS with what coal means at the front. However, there is no far sighted Secretary of Labor on the job to head off a national catas-. trOphe.
 GENERAL" ELLIOTT ROOSEVELT
 It didn't leak out of the Sen- ate Military Affairs Committee, but last week, its new chairman, Senator Ebert Thomas of Utah, made a delft move probably aimed to facilitate confirmation of Elliott Roosevelt as briga- dier general.
 Hitherto, all military promo tions sent to the Senate have been sent to a Military Affairs Sub-Committe headed by Happy Chandler of Kentucky for scru- tiny. This committee has then passing or reject ing the promotions.
 However, Chairman Thomas told his colleagues last week that this Committee had been rather and he believed 1t should be dispensed with.
 At this point, Senator ChaEd- Ter spoke up, and without any ir- ritation remarked:
 I'm not looking for job for myself, but think 1t would be a mistake not to examnie these nominations. I've been chair man of this sub- cOmmitte for so long that I don't know that I'd want to continue anyway, but I do feel that no man should hold the high place of general in the United States Army with out a group of SenaOtrS look ing into his record and study ing 1t carefully"
 Several other Senators agreed with Chandler but nevertheless it was decided for the time be- ing to take military promotions up in full committee. The full therefore, was sitting when young Roosevelt's name was voted out of the committee for confirmation. Had 2 sub- handled the matter 1t might have been bottled up con- siderably longer.
 UNDER THE DOME
 Able Lauchlin Currie, whom the President said could not be spared from the White House staff on  loan to the Foreign Economic Ad- any longer, now is going to Switzerland to negotiate a new treaty. Looks like he could be spared after all As re- suit of Ed Stettinius' new in- to State Department employees to write personal, cozy letters he is now called "The Dale Carnegie of Diplomacy" AL lied and Russian bomberS will be heading out over tnc Baltic now that the Russians have new bases, to look for the German fleet. Hit ler's remaining battlcships have kept out of the western Baltic be- cause of England-based bombcrs and took refuge around Danzig.