Evening star., 1946-05-28
Lewis and Krug to Work Today
On Final Details of Coal Pact:
Unions May Forsoke Trumon
UNIV and Federal
Attorneys Putting
Terms in Writing
By james Y. Newton

hopes 1Or an emu Ol tlle Nd
tion-Wide soft coal strike ran
high today as John L. Lewis and
Secretary of the Interior Krug,
Government mines boss, Sched-
uled a conference to work over
final details of an agreement for
Federal operation of the mines.
The meeting first was called for
II am, but later was postponed
until 2:15 pm.
Senator Hill, Democrat, of Ala
bama. deputy administration leader,
predicted an end of the strike
within the next 48 hours He
said he had talked with both sides
and that he understood all "are in
agreement on principles for settle
ment.'
Early Announcement Seen.
81 feel confident that unless some
thing unforeseen occurs" the Sena-
tor continued, "the coal strike will
be settled and announcement of
settlement made within the next
48 hours
Both sides indicated a break was
near in the controversy which has
plagued the country for two months
and several times threatened to
bring industry generally to a halt.
Officials of the union seemed espe-
cially optimistic and pleased with
the progress.
However, the mines were almost
completely closed down as the latest
general strike entered it's second day.
The Government was prepared for
drastic action should some last
minute hitch develop in the nego-
tiations. The mine workers gener-
ally ignored pleas to work for the
Government.
Being Put Into Writing.
While terms of any agreement
we're not revealed it was believed Mr.
Krug and Mr.. Lewis had reached
near-accord on the principles"
of a contract. Both union and Fed
eral attorneys were called into nego-
tiations, indicating that the terms
were being put IN writing.
Mr.. Krug told newsmen yesterday
that some progress" was being
made, the first encouragement he
had given since the mines were
seized last Wednesday. An interior
spokesman added that the attorneys
would be engaged until far in the
night. He did not elaborate but was
obviously optimistic.
Mr.. Lewis refused comment on de-
parting from six and half hours
conferences with Mr.. Krug yester-
day. He was cheerful, however.
Will Report to Operators.
Announcement of any agreement
Mr.. Krug may complete today with
the mine workers may be delayed
somewhat by his promise to report
to the mine operators the details of
plan for Government operation
Even after a Government contract
has been drafted and the mines
reopened, there still might be a
long battle before permanent
agreement is signed and the mines
returned to private ownership. Some
operators have objected strenuously
to contract principles" described
to them privately by Mr.. Krug, but
it is believed most of them will go
along with the final draft.
1t was indicated that Mr.. Lewis
will win an 1815 -cents-an-hour in
crease for the miners, in accord
with the national pattern estab-
ished For other big industries.
The present 54-hour week, COM
prised of six 9-hour days under
ground will be shortened by five g.
hour days or As hours a week, with
time-and-a-half overtime being paid
after IS hours as at present.
All of this would raise the base
pay of miners paid by the hour to
$1.1812.k 4 The maximum take-home
pay of fnch day men would be re-
duced somewhat from the present
s6350 for the 54-hour week to about
$59.25. This drop would be offset
solneYhat by raising annual vaca-
ton allowances from $75 to s100.
Double Fund Reported.
1t was believed that a double
health and welfare fund had been
agreed to. The miners who now
have payments for doctors and hos
pitalization deducted from their BIZ
weekly pay envelopes would con-
tinue to make the payments except
they would 60 to the union instead
of the operators.
Then, another fund, jointly op-
Grated, would be set up by 5-cents-
per-ton levy on coal which would be
used to alleviate hardships and sup
plement compensation payments
among the injured, diseased and old
miners. This would mean that Mr..
Lewis had abandoned his demand
fa,a si.ai,aa r.lx,a ia icto o..cd Ga.