The Wilmington morning star., 1946-05-12
OPERATORS
ADJOURN MEETING
TO THIS MORNING
Demand For 100000
In Back Holiday Pay Big
Stumbling Block

WASHINGTON, May IL
(AP) - The government to-
d a ordered the railroad
freight embargo lifted Mon
day but slapped controls on
the entire soft coal output ex-
pected during the strike
truce"
The action covers Captive"
mines as we'll as others and
may withhold coal from industry
Immediately. But it provides the
government with an expected TO-
600, 900 to Is, 1000, 900 tons of coal for
emergency users without ~resorting
to seizure of the pits.
John L. Lewis and the mine
owners met. meanwhile, in what
Edward F. McGrady, federal con-
ciliator, called ga very friendly,
very cooperative atmosphere to
seek the settlement President Tru-
man requested by Wednesday.
After morning and afternoon
sessions which brought no specific
word of progress the c%onferees adj
journed until IL a. m. EST) to-
morrow. The stumbling block ap-
peared to be Lewis demand for
So, 900, 900 in back holiday pay. Pos
sibly in this connection, most of
the afternoon session was devoted
to a caucus of the operators. 1t
they who proposed the Sunday
session.
demonstrates Controp'
John D. Battle, executive secre-
tary of the National Coal associa-
ton, who was not among the con-
ferees, issued a statement saying
that "the coal mine owners made
offers to the union leaders weeks
ago that should have prevented a
work stoppage, and they renewed
their offers many times" He de-
clared that Lewis truce offer ''fur-
Their demonstrates his control over
nations coal supply"
On the political front, Senator
Mitchell O.-Wash.) reported ap-
peals from CIO locals that the anti
poll tax bill be placed in the way
labor legislation which the SEN
ate will consider Monday. Such
strategy could be expected to pro-
woke long debate, if not a filibuster.
With miners generally ready to
go back to work Monday morning
except in several scattered locals,
officials not only took control of
the coal to be mined during the
truce but called for con-
tinued dimouts and other electric
power conservation measures in
view of the still-deadlocked con-
tract negotiations.
Although the order by the Solid
Fuels administration covers the
coal to be produced by Captive"
mines owned by the steel compan-
les. Much of this is unsuitable for
use outside steel mills. The effect
OF the Orde on steel production re-
manned uncertain.
Sets Up Priorities
The order, in effect, sets up pri-
critics b. which the accommodating
coal will be doled out by the gov
eminent. The first preference will
go to utilities, railroads, l%aundries,
hospitals and the like. Only after
these needs are filled may factories
get coal.
Secretary of the Interior Krug,
who heads the solid fuels admins
tration, said in a statement that
the need for rigid regulation of coal
distribution is as necessary now
as it was at the beginning of the
strike" He added that the STA
intends to continue control of coal
distribution as long as there is any
Danger that essential public serv-
.ces and industry may be force2
% suspend because they lack coal"
Krug said the national stockpile
has been so badly impaired by
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