The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-05-09
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tcontlnued from Paee D


 Even though the coal strike be settled says the scovin president In his letter. the situation will be just as grave if the threatened rail strike set for mid-May materializes. n that case, likewise, he states, SScovill will have to stop produc- tion.''
 The letter concludes with this sentence:
 we suggest that strikes which pndanger the livelihood of the whole people should be made illegal by sction of Congress"
 An editorial to be published in The Scovill Bulletin, re- leased by the company in ad- vance, asks "Is there a God given right to striker" The editorial asserts that only a slightly changed viewpoint" Is needed to label as conspiracy"
 concerted strike action "tO hurt Jhe citizenry of the nation"
 At Naugatuck, Eastern Malleable Iron altered Its normal six-day week because of the coal shortage and announced it will be closed Saturday. About 250 workers will be affected. Extension of the Satur- day closing ban indefinitely is un- der consideration.
 Scovill and the Chase Brass & Copper Company are reported to have a coal supply sufficient for several weeks, but the ban on rail- road freight hauled by coal-burn- ing locomotives will deal them severe blow. Other local plants are in the same position
 The New Haven Railroad will suffer less than other lines from the freight embargo because it has a large supply of electric and diesel locomotives. How ever, much of the raw material coming into local factories is from points well beyond the end of the New Haven's routes, and much of the finished goods shipped out from here goes to distant points. The New Haven announced today it will con- tinue to accept freight for ship ment to any station on it's own lines or to any station on elec- trified portions of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad, New York Gen. tral, and Long Island Rail- road, OF also to any point on the dieselized New York, On- tariO & Western. This means that freight service from here and, other cities on the New Haven can go only to points north of Washington, D. C., and east of Harrisburg, Pa. Local factories can continue to operate until their present supplies of raw materials and coal are ex- hausted, but in the event the coal strike and the freight ban are con- tinued, this would mean that fin- ished products would have to be piled up in warehouses or storage sheds for future shipment.
 The local office of Railway Express Tuesday night gave 72- hour notice to 12 employees that they will be laid off unless the l freight embargo should be lift ed. Continuance of the ODT ban will mean additional lay offs, says R. L. Chapman, gen. eral agent. Frank J, Green, secretary of the Waterbury Chamber of Commerce, said today that the Chamber and its Merchants Bureau are keeping in close touch with the entire situa- ton, especially the Civilian Pro- duction Administrations recommen- dation for rationing of electric i power. Five thousand Scovill employees have signed a petition urging im- mediate termination of the coal strike. The petition, sponsored by | Scovill Post No. 1, Veterans of War Production, was forwarded yester- day to President Truman and Con- necticut members of Congress.
 Following is the text of the let ter sent today to all Scovill em- ployes:
 May g, 1946 To All ScOvill Employes:- Unless the coal strike is end ed before Friday, the movement of all freight except such es- sentials as food, livestock, fuel and drugs will cease at 12:O1 A. M. Friday, May 10, I946. This action is ordered by the Federal Government because available stocks of soft coal above ground are being reduced to the vanishing point. We call this to your attention because from Friday on Scovill will neither receive many neces- sary supplies nor ship the goods you make. In other words, if freight cannot be moved either to or from our plant, it will not be long before ScOvill must close down. Trucks and truck ing facilities are not adequate to take. care of the situation.
 If the coal strike is settled, and if the railroad strike now scheduled for mid-May takes place. the Company will be in the same position. ScOvill will have to stop production. We suggest that strikes which endanger the livelihood of the