Evening star., 1946-05-15

lieu llUl lcStl CJcO. L DC OptTdtUIS
Negotiating Committee unequivocal-
ly rejects this proposal for the fol-
lowing reasons:
First, the committee would not
exercise such authority and make
commitment of this character for
the industry, and further, this mat
ter does not 60 to the question of
wages, hours, or working conditions
Second, that the plan constitutes
double taxation on the industry for
social welfare, for which it is now
paying approximately 10 cents per
ton, as follows:
Social security ------ sofa
Unemployment tax x.-- .0351
Compensation insurance --- .0468
Vocational disease insurance 0OO4
.O997
This amounted in 1914 to more
than SCI 100000. This amount was
contributed solely by the operators
Needs Legislative Study.
Third, that it Is a matter of public
concern and is therefore problem
that should be considered not by
this wage conference, but by public
legislative bodies, and then only
after complete and thorough in
vestigation by such legislative bodies
of all the problems involved.
This proposal presents to the
conference new social theory and
philosophy, the effect of which would
extend to every industry in Amer
lea, and as such must be considered
and acted upon as a national prob
lem and not as one relating to the
coal industry alone, and in the
judgment of the committee, we re-
peat. is one to be considered by
public legislative bodies.
Without consideration of the cost
to the industry and indirectly to
the public, it proposes the imposi-
tion of what in effect is large
tax upon the industry and the
public by a private enterprise, the
United Mine Workers of America
1t incroaches directly upon the
function of Government by usurping
the taxing powers and the problems
of social welfare and would result
In increased cost of coal and lessen
the tax income of Government.
On March Is, 1916, the operators
proposed "the joint exploration and
consideration of plan to create
by joint contributions a reasonable
fund to be used to mitigate unusual
hardship cases arising directly from
accidents occurring in the course
Of employment, such fund to be
administered by some independent
agency (such as the Red Cross
with the advice of the mine work.
ers and operators"
In order to know the requirements
to take care of unusual hardship
cases arising out of mine accidents
it is necessary that such investiga-
ton be conducted to disclose the
facts, the fund to be based on the
findings of such investigation.
The Operators Negotiating Com
mittee also offered to agree that
all operators party to the contract
would accept the provisions of the
workmen's compensation laws in
the States wherein such acceptance
is optional and to turn over all the
moneys collected from the mine
workers for the payment of doctors
hospitals and for similar purposes
for administration by the union.
The miners are we'll paid and are
able to maintain very high stand
ard of living and first grade order
Of citizenship. There is no neces-
sity for these citizens being ac-
corded different treatment or being
furnished greater privileges thar
those received by other citizens ir
the same community. A proper
fund to take care of unusual hard
ship cases is all that is required and
is all that the industry should be
asked to bear.