Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-05-17
Coal
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lISU FdRR.b
willing to submit questions of wages
and hours to an arbitrator, but they
fatty rejected arbitration on the
major issues Of union health and
welfare fund, mine safety and
unionization of mine supervisory
and clerical employees.
White House Press Secretary
Charles G. Ross said this morning
there were no new developments on
coal and that there were no plans
to call MIR. Lewis or Mr.. ONeill
back to the White House He added,
however, that in a situation of
this sort anything can happen
at any time
After Mr.. O'Neill and Mr.. Lewis
had answered Mr.. Truman in a
brief conference yesterday, Mr.. Ross
released their decisions. He said the
President had Cancelled plans for a
weekend trip to Kansas City be-
cause of the railroad and coal crises.
Mr.. Ross did not reveal what the
next step would be in the coal con-
troversy. He said the President had
not abandoned hope of settlement
and had asked Mr.. Lewis and Mr..
O'Neil to stand by for further con-
variations with him.
In revealing the operators answer
to the Presidents arbitration pro-
posal, Mr.. Ross said:
so it was not a categorical no.
1t was limited no."
Besides Mr.. Truman and the rep
resentatives of the coal disputants,
those taking part in the last White
House coal conference were Secre-
tary of Labor Schwellenbach, Re-
conversion Director Snyder and
John r. Steelman, special presiden-
tial assistant.
The operators already have Of
fered the miners wage increase of
1871 cents an hour, in line with the
national pattern established for
other industries Since wages still
are subject to Federal control, their
acceptance of arbitration on that
Industry Must Decide.
But on the health and welfare
demand, the controversy over union
ization of foremen, the acceptance
OF Federal mine inspectors safety
recommendations, and minor de-
mands going to the betterment of
local living conditions, maintenance
of property and settlement of COM
munity affairs" the operators said !:
IF these demands continue to be
pressed, the industry, and it alone,
must make the decision in each
case as to how far it can go in the
surrender of it's hitherto unchal-
lenged functions. The industry can
not delegate that authority to any
one else" a
On the question of seizure, Mr.
Truman told his news conference
yesterday he would cross that bridge
when it is reached.
Later, after Mr.. Lewis and Mr.
O'Neill handed their arbitration
turn-downs to the President, Secre-
tary Schwellenbach referred to that
step as the "only legal power the
Government has" in the event of 8
complete breakdown. He added
however, that 1--WE haven't vel
reached point of decision on seiz.
ure."
I Charge Damage to Lewis.
The operators, in their letter tt
Mr.. Truman rejecting arbitration
OF nonwage issues, commented:
''Mr. Lewis has already seriousl,
damaged our domestic economy anc
threatens further Interruptions il
his efforts to bludgeon the operator.
into the acceptance of these de-
mands. For the country's plight tn,
operators deny responsibility. Their,
have been no real negotiations sine
the conference was assembled. Thi
situation has been repeatedly callet
to the attention of the country.
Clothed in the guise of humani'
tartan moves, the health and vel
fare fund is still basically an at
tempt to force individual benefit;
for the miners at the expense of tn.
common good. It would establish
lby contract a new social and eco