Evening star., 1947-04-02
Hearings on Dr.. Boyd
For Mines Chief Post
Delayed Indefinitely
By The Assoeioied Press

Nebraska said today the Senate
Lands Committee, which he
heads, has postponed indefinitely
its consideration of the nomina :
tion of DR.. James Boyd to be-
come director of the Bureau of
Mines.
John L. Lewis, United Mine Work
ers9 president, twice has objected
vigorously before a subcommittee
to President Truman's appointment
of DR.. Boyd Mr. Lewis claimed
the appointment was initiated by
Secretary of Interior Krug and con-
tended that DR.. Boyd is unqualified
for the post because he lacks coal
mining experience.
L Senator Butler told reporter to-
day that Mr.. Lewis opposition had
nothing at all to do with the
committee postponement.
Hard to- Get Quorum.
Likewise, he said President Tru-
mans request to Dr.. r. R. Sayers
to remain as Mines Bureau director
for the time being was not response
BILE for canceling a committee ses-
sion scheduled for today.
1T was due to the press of affairs, y
| Senator Butler said 1T is difficult
right now to get quorum present
because members are tied up in other
committee meetings"
Senator Butler said he has heard
nothing about possible with
draWal of Dr. Boyd's nomination.
He added that the committee will
take up the question of confirmation
in due timey"
The Government, meanwhile tried
to bolster its coal mine services today
amid threats of an extended shut
down of unsafe" mines.
The sM-day memorial work stop
page, called by Mr.. Lewis for the
Ill victims of the Centralia Gll.)
catastrophe, is due to end Easter
Sunday night. But union officials
in two Midwest districts declared
the miners there will not work next
week in pits they regard as too
dangerous.
With this possibility in mind
plus the chance that still other dig
! gers might extend the memorial
period on their own, the 500 en-
ployes of the Solid Fuels Admins
I tration were placed on standby
basis whiles that agency is being
| liquidated
Expires With War Powers.
So far as its legal status is con-
cerned, the STA was wiped out with
expiration of the second War Pow
ers Act at midnight Sunday-the
time Mr.. Lewis set for the start of
the unprecedented Nation wide
mourning period.
! That also was the date the United
Mine Workers chief set for the ex-
/ plration of his winter strike truce
later revoked after the Supreme
Court upheld his and the unions
contempt convictions.
/ Hence Secretary Krug held off
until yesterday serving 30-day dis
missal notices on the STA employees
an action which will keep them
available through April
! The agencys chief functions in
previous mine shutdoWns has been
to set up ALLEGATION rules to spread
the supply of coal among essential
users. ....
That authority expired with the
War Powers Act, however, and Con-
gress would have to reinstate it If
similar action were to be taken in
the days or weeks ahead.
DIR. Sayers May Remain.
But the fact the workers familiar
with procedure still are available
would avoid any lost motion.
! DR.. Sayers was to have been moved
to the Public Health Service,
Yesterday the White House, with
out referring to Mr.. Lewis blast at
DR.. Boyd, said Mr.. Truman had asked
Dr.. SayerS, whose record Mr.. Lewis
! praised, to remain as director of the
mines bureau until relieved" If
DR., Boyd is not confirmed, or if the
White. House withdraws his nomi-
nation, this might keep Dr. Sayers
in his current post Indefinitely.
Wrote Mine Safety Code.
| 1t was Dr. Sayers who wrote the
| Federal mine safety code which Mr..
Lewis contends Mr.. Krug has faileo
seized the bituminous pits in the
spring strike. The code, vigorously
/ fought by the coal opera tors because
jof the possible costs of compliance.
was agreed on in the contract be-
tween Mr.. Krug and Mr.. Lewis
which ended that strike.
. The Interior Secretary, meanwhile,
kept at work on his report to the
Senate Public Lands Subcommittee
investigating the Centralia blast. He
hoped to have it in the hands of
Subcommittee Chairman Gordon by
today.
Mr.. Lewis will give his own opin-
ions about the Centraiia disaster to
House Labor Subcommittee headed
by Representative Schwabe, Repub-
lican, of Missouri tomorrow. Mr..
Schwabe said Mr. Lewis would be
allowed to give his version of the
affair and say anything he wishes"
Violations Revealed.
Mr. Lewis accused Secretary Krug
of criminal negligence" in The
Centralia accident on the ground he
did not act when a Federal mine
inspection report showed many
afetv cofie viola tinps
The Gordon committee was az
ranging to carry its investigation to
the little Illinois town where tbe III