Evening star., 1947-06-26

VII Wd " DcU WIN
'RebeIIious Lewis
Federal coal officials today
considered possible ways of
heading of a long coal strike
while in Congress Republican
leaders In the House split
sharply over what should be
done about John L. Lewis.
Chairman Hartley OF the House
Labor Committee and co-sponsor OF
the new labor relations law. hotly
described Mr.. Lewis as "rebellious
and mutinous citizen
However, Representative Lands,
Republican, Of Indiana, second In
rank on the Labor Committee, took
issue with Mr.. Hartley. Mr.. Lands
said he thought the private coal
operators should give i'm to some
of the United Mine Workers con-
tract demands In order to remove
the threat Of 4 full-nedged strike
July 3.
The present mine stoppage re-
portedly Is In protest against the
new Taft Hartley law. But after
June 30. when the Government must
release the mines it has operated
for more than 4 year, the miners
will have no work contract with
anyone.
Begin Vacation Tomorrow.
Tomorrow midnight the miners
are to begin To-day paid vaca-
ton, which was scheduled some
time before the Tsft-Hartley law
protest walkout began Tuesday. The
vacation ends July and that is
when officials fear real strike will
start.
Representatives Of Northern and
Western coal producers, about IS
per cent OF the soft coal industry,
are in Washington discussing the
possibility of renewing contract ne
gotiations with Mr.. Lewis. 1t was
understood the operators conferred
with UNIV Vice President John
OLeary; but were said to have made
little progress.
Unless the Government comes up
with some unexpected move, it
appeared the only way a serious
shutdown of mining could be ayerted
next month is for the operators
md miners to reach agreement on
q contract.
Hartley Asks Law for Lewis.
In blasting away at Mr.. Lewis,
Mr.. Hartley called for the adding
Of a whole new section to the new
labor law to deal with Mr.. Lewis
and the Challenge" Of other union
leaders.
Industry oficials said Mr.. Lewis,
in new contract demands, is hold
ing out for 35-cent hourly wage
increase, a 10-cent- ton royalty to
replace the current scent assess
ment to his union welfare and re-
tirement fund plus his other orig
inal demands.
Mr.. Lands, however, today said
he is convinced the contract dead
lock could be broken II the operators
would agree to:
"A 5-cent-s-ton royalty for the
welfare fund.
"A seven-hour day plus an hours
portal-to-portal (traveD time, In
stead of the present eight-hour day
and an hours portal time.
THE safety code the miners now
have in their contract with the Gov
ernment."
"Of course" Mr.. Lands added
they would have to pay decent
wage, too. but the wage issue isn't
much OF a barrier.
1T looks to me as II the opera
tors should give IN If we ever
should have to 60 bs ck to Govern
ment seizure Of mines in big coal
strike, the miners would get all
those things from the Government
anyway. ..-.... ...
Il understand the Southern op-
orators are holding out on the well
fare fund and the safety code and
the Northern (and Western) opera
tors on the code.
II understand the Southern op-
orators would 60 for q an cents
royalty if the money was turned
over to the local unions instead of
the UNIV.
Maybe they could 60 up to S
cents, with half going TO the local
and half to the UNIV"
Hartley Shows Ne Patience.
The Southern operators have in
sisted on bargaining separately.
Thus far they have made no dis
cernible move to revive negotiations.
Mr.. Hartley showed no such pa
tience with Mr.. Lewis as his col
league.
For my own part" the New Jer-
sey lawmaker said, II look on John
L. Lewis as q rebellious and mu-
tinous citizen, man who has re-
fused time and again to accept the
authority Of Government except
on his own terms
Contending that "other leaders pf
organized labor are showing signs
of that same rebeilious activity
Mr. Hartley added:
The reaction OF organized labor
to the enactment OF the new labor
law indicates most unhealthy sit
uation In our economy"
He fatly opposed extending the
Governments wartime plant seizure
powers as proposed by Representa-
tive Smith, Democrat, of Virginia.
Such a step would be only an
other In a long series of surrenders