Evening star., 1946-05-06
Coal Conferees
Send Out Call
For Absences
Session Suddenly
Recessed Until
This Afternoon
BY the Associated Press

Fresh developments in the soft
coal negotiations were indicated
today when the Government
sponsored conferences were re-
cessed suddenly to permit at
tendance of all operators at this
afternoons session.
The operators caucused for an
hour this morning while the miners
Negotiating Committee sat by John
L. Lewis, United Mine Workers
president, was absent.
Edward R. Burke, head of the
Southern Coal Producers Associa-
ton, and Charles O'Neill, chairman
of the Northern Appalachian group,
also were absent. Mr.. Burke was
appearing before the House Judi
ciary Committee in behalf of a bill
to curb imposition by a union of a
royalty on the product of an en-
ployer. Such payment is one of
Mr.. Lewis major demands on the
coal operators.
Federal Conciliators Silent.
Government conciliators were
silent on the developments beyond
saying that recess was called until
2:30 pm.
Some Government proposal for
ending the SO : day old strike
was expected this week, although
whether it will be submitted this
afternoon was not known.
Secretary of Labor SchWellenbach
went into a conference with Special
Conciliators Edward F. McGrady
and Paul w. Fuller during the re-
cess.
Meanwhile, F. H. La Guardia,
UNRRA director general. told re-
porters after a White House call
that the strike had resulted in the
reduction of coal shipments to Italy
during one week in April from 1885,
900 to $500 tons
He said food shipments have not
yet been affected.
In Sixth Week.
The coal strike, which President
Truman described as a national
disaster" stretched into its sixth
week, meanwhile. with official fears
and congressional temperS both
mounting.
AS Mr.. Lewis prepared to re-
sumo his silent treatment of
the bituminous operators, Congress
made its first tentative move toward
stepping into the dispute.
A House Judiciary subcommittee
was holding hearings on a bill to
outlaw any form Of special produc-
ton payments to unions. Such a
law, if passed, would strike down Mr.
Lewis No. l demand-for a health
and welfare fund for his United
Mine Workers.
Lewis Has No Comment.
Mr.. Lewis held his own counsel
on this maneuver as we'll as Mr.
Truman's week end report warning
that the full impact of the strike
has only "barely begun" to be felt
Even before that document was
made public the Senate heard sew
eral of it's members demand Gov
ernment action to reopen the mines
Later Senator Ellender, Demo-
crat, of Louisiana. told reporters he
thought the report could well mean
that the White House is preparing
the public for the necessary steps
of seizure"
Seizure, however, was not being
mentioned seriously among Labor
Department officials as a likely next
step-for the big reason. they said
privately, that the Government has
no assurances that the 100000 idle
miners would return to their jobs
even then.
Compromise Plan Expected.
What is expected first, instead, is
some Government suggestion of
possible compromise proposals which
might form the basis for real COL
lective bargaining between Mr.
Lewis and the operators.
1t was learned from those who
have been present that Mr.. Lewis
has not said word in the last four
days of contract negotiations. He
has left all talking to his subordi-
nate.
The immediate hurdle to full give
and-take discussions is Mr.. Lewis
demand for some $3,000,000 in back
pay for holidays occurring since Mr..
Truman wiped out the wartime or
der requiring payment for six majo
unworked holidays. Mr.. Lewis in
sists that the old contract required
payment for those holidays regard
less of any change in national pol
icy.
Although the union contends the
assembling of the 250-man Policy
Committee here tomorrw is routine
and does not necessarily presage a
"break" in the negotiations. the
tSee COAL, Page A-4D