Evening star., 1946-06-02
All Soft Coal Miners
To Return Tomorrow:
Anthracite Talks Laq
By jones Y. Newton

by Jones 7. Newton
Government operators of the Ma
tion's bituminous coal mines tomor-
row expect the first full days pro-
duction since March. Indications
are that nearly all of John L. Lewis
100000 miners would return to their
jobs.
In anticipation Of complete re-
turn OF the mine workers, Vice Ad-
mlral Ben Moreell, deputy Govern
ment mine boss, directed mine oper-
ating managers to put in effect i'm
medlately terms of the new contract
signed with the United Mine Work
efs.
Admiral Moreel advised the man.
ayers that OPA regulations will per-
nit retroactive billing by coal pro-
ducers of additional costs under new
contract terms until final determina-
ton of a price increase by the
agency. He said information neceS-
sary for OPA price action is being
assembled.
Operators to Join Krug.
Although Secretary of Interior
Krug, mines operator for the Gov
ernment, will make the formal ap-
pllcation for higher prices to cover
added costs of the new contract, rep
rfsentative private operators from
all soft coal districts are expected
To- tell OPA tomorrow what they will
need in the way of price relief.
If OPA grants an increase which
the operators consider fair, it was
expected that nearly all of them
will sign contracts with Mr.. Lewis
and reclaim their mines promptly
There is the possibility, however,
OF long price battle.
= On the hard coal front, where
$4,000 anthracite diggers have been
on strike for two days, representa-
tives of the operators and the UNIV
held tWo-hour negotiating session
in New York yesterday with little
progress reported.
Also Ask Welfare Fund.
1t was understood that all new
contract proposals were discussed
and that the union demanded six
day pay for a five-day week plus
q health and welfare fund of $10,-
100000 a year. Both sides refused
comment on the report.
A union spokesman said Mr..
Lewis, who has been busily en-
gagged with the soft coal contro-
versy, would enter the anthracite
negotiations, probably this week.
Most of the anthracite industry is
located in Pennsylvania and the
UNIV strike was reported 100 per
cent effective. Only a handful of
independent miners at Shamokin,
Pa, and 500 in Virginia were still
working.
Admiral Moreell announced that
all soft coal mines not covered by
contract with Mr.. Lewis would be
released from Government control
tomorrow. This will return to pri-
vate operation about 1000 small
mines, representing less than per
cent of the national output.
With the promise of full produc-
tion of bituminous coal, the para
Nzed steel industry prepared for
gradual return to normal operation.
Steel Production Rises.
The industry in the Pittsburgh
area scheduled ingot production at
IS per cent of normal this week, an
II per cent gain over the end of
last week. Before the end of the
strike, production had dropped to
seven per cent of capacity.
Carnegie Illinois Steel Corp.
largest U. S. Steel subsidiary, sched-
uled production of 20.2 per cent for
the week. Four U. S. Steel mines
in Western Pennsylvania resumed
operation yesterday. making a total
Of $500 out of $4,000 miners of the
area at work.
Union officials predicted that all
OF Pennsylvania's soft coal miners
would be on the job tomorrow.
In West Virginia a large number
OF workers already had returned.
Only two mines were reported still
idle in the northern part of the
State, while in the south around
Beckley 95 per cent output was in
dicated yesterday Operators re-
ported that 20 of Virginia's "a major
mines were working. About $4,000
OF Illinois $4,000 UNIV members
were at work, while the figure for
Alabama was IS per cent of $4,000
on the job.
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enough to have canceling machine
will soon be imprinting on mail:
Buy United States Savings Bonds
See your postmaster. Dies used
before the war can be used again