Evening star., 1948-03-31
Coal
Continued From First Page.)

the coal dispute and strike were
noncommittal as to the contents OF
their report. Federal Judge Sher-
man Minton, chairman of the three
man panel, told reporters the
President had excused them for the
time being: He answered questions
as to the contents of the reports by
saying "it speaks for itself"
The two other members Of the
board, Mark F. Ethridge, Louisville
publisher, and DR.. George w. Taylor,
former chairman of the War Labor
Board, accompanied Judge Minton
along with Thomas Kennedy, the
secretary of the board.
Although the report was not made
public, it was understood to assess
responsibility for the coal strike on
Mr.. Lewis and his United Mine
Workers. The report, it is said, also
contains criticism of the coal opera
+ RS for their part in the pension
AID welfare fund dispute with the
union.
When Mr.. Truman appointed the
board. he gave 1t until April s
to submit its findings to the White
House.
Data Gathered by FBI.
Inquiry board members were
known to feel that the mine work
stoppage is inexcusable. While their
report was said to contain some
criticism of the mine owners atti-
tude toward establishment of a
pension plan, most of the barbs will
be aimed at Mr.. Lewis.
Justice Department attorneys are
known to have laid the groundwork
for an injunction. The FBI has
been gathering data on the strike
both here and in the coal fields.
Whether Mr.. Lewis would heed
an injunction was another matter.
In late 1916 he ignored. one. The
UNIV and he subsequently paid
$710, 900 in contempt fines as a re-
suit.
However, Mr.. Lewis yesterday
yielded to a District Court order re-
quiring him to appear before the in
quiry board. Prefacing an hour Of
questioning by the three fact-flnd-
ers he said he was appearing under
compulsion."
Denies Strike Responsibility.
His bitterness toward the Taft
Hartley Act, frequently stated, may
cause him to battle an injunction,
thereby providing the most spec
tacular test of the new labor rela-
tions law
Mr.. Lewis disclaimed any re-
sponsibility for the mine walkout
in his testimony before the board.
He said his March IL letter to the
miners was merely intended to in
form them why they were being de-
MED use of the UNIV welfare and
retirement fund, which now totals
s32, ,oOO, 900.
II naturally assume" said Mr.
Lewis, in explaining the walkout
three days later, that as soon as
the mine workers discovered they
had been gold-bricked by the oper-
ators they expressed their dissatis-
faction as individuals in that way
They certainly had been gold
bricked."
Lewis Defends Pension Plan.
Mr.. Lewis defended his plan to
give the pensions to all miners
whether already retired or working
for companies not contributing to
the welfare fund.
"On July s, 1947, the coal opera
tors contracted for a pension plan
and on this day of March. 1948, nine
months after, there is no welfare
fund, no pension plan, no medica.
fund and no relief for widows ano
orphans out of this money" he said
"That is very successful recorC
from the standpoint of the greedy
coal operators"
Mr.. Lewis contended that al
UNIV members in the soft Goa
fields should be eligible for pension,
regardless of whether they have al.
ready retired. He said the ones in
retirement needed the help most
because they were the ones who ha6
been "mangled, used up and cast
aside to die" by the coal industry.
The operators argue that only
those miners now employed by EN-.
ployers who signed the 1947 con.
tract should be eligible for the pen
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