Evening star., 1946-05-22
.A|tmeyer Joins
krug and Lewis
In MinePar|ey
Social Security Head
To Advise Secretary
On Welfare Fund
By jones Y. Newton

Secretary OF Interior Krug this
afternoon called in Arthur Alt
meyer, chairman of the Social
Security Board, to advise him on
the miners demand for a health
and welfare fund shortly after
opening Government negotia-
tionS for a work contract with
John L. Lewis.
Mr.. Krug announced that Mr.
Altmeyer would sit in on negotia-
tions this afternoon and give him
benefit of his knowledge of health
and welfare funds.
The Interior Secretary and his
special assistant as boss of the soft
coal mines seized by the Govern
ment, Vice Admiral Ben Moreell,
met with Mr.. Lewis for three hours
earlier today Afterwards Mr.. Krug
reported he had nothing to say as
to progress of negotiations except
that the talks would be resumed at
3 pm. with Mr.. Altmeyer present.
Operators Urged to Produce.
The mine operators negotiating
committee meanwhile notified Mr.
Krug they would recommend that
all soft coal producers proceed with
the production of coal in the period
of Government operation of the
mines and that the operators make
retroactive the payment of any wage
increases subsequently granted the
miners.
The operators said they would
suggest that the retroactive wage
procedure be continued until June
4, provided the Government makes
sure that prices will be increased to
compensate for any wage increase
(which will be given the miners.
President Truman yesterday Or
dered Mr.. Krug to seize the mines,
effective last midnight, and in
structed him to draft a contract
with Mr. Lewis. The 38-year-old
cabinet officer Immediately assigned
the job of running the Nation S
more than 1000 bituminous pits to
Admiral Moreell, wartime head of
the Navy SeabeeS.
The two were working against
time with still no assurance that
the 100000 miners would continue
to dig coal after expiration of Mr.
Lewis l5-day strike truce Saturday
Regarding the possibility of ordering
! the men to continue work, Mr.. Krug
said the union leader made no
promises, and we requested none u
Widespread Stoppages Feared.
Federal labor officials feared
however, there would be new wide
| spread stoppages on Monday unless
at least a tentative contract is
worked out before that time. A
good many of the miners would
follow their traditional policy of nc
contract, no work" despite Govern
ment operation of the mines, it is
believed.
! Mr.. Krug and Admiral Moreel
met for several hours late yester.
day, first with Mr.. Lewis and ther
with the mine operators Contract
Negotiating Committee
/ Whatever agreement is worked
out with the miners must be ap-
proved by the owners before the
mines are returned to them. The
Interior Secretary said the operators
would be advised of any arrange
ments made for the period of Gov
eminent operation.
Accord in principle Sought.
Mr. Krug indicated that at first
agreement in principle" would be
attempted on the controversial issues
of the welfare fund, the workers
demands for acceptance by manage.
ment of Federal Bureau of Mines
safety recommendation and union
ization of clerical and supervisory
mine employees except six men to g
work shift.
Federal officials believe that con-
siderable investigation as to the size
Of the fund needed must be carried
forward before final details of the
welfare plan can be worked out
They also believe the fund shoulc
be jointly contributed and Jointly
administered. This is contrary tc
the Lewis demand and it is uncer-
tain how far he would back dowr
from it.
The operators, too, are unlikely
to accept any plan that goes much
further than their proposal for q
fund, jointly contributed and inde-
pendently operated, to take care OF
cases of unusual hardship. among
the miners.
Lewis Silent on Pay.
So far Mr.. Lewis has not revealed
what he wants in the way of wage
increases for his men. The Gov.
ernment cannot afford to allow ar
increase in excess of the 1872 cents
allowed steel workers, because il
would mean breakdown of wage.
price policy
In seizing the mines and empower
(See COAL, Page A-3.)