Evening star., 1948-04-12
BRIDGES Explains Pension Plan

Bridges ExpI0I
The tert of the statement of
Senator Bridges. Republican. OF
Nep Hampshire at the meeting
OF the trustees OF the UNIV We'll
fare and Retirement Fund, er-
planning the plan iDhich led to
settlement of the coal strike:
As q basis for my remarks and
the resolution I shall introduce. ]
want to state certain facts.
The point in issue here Is not
whether there should be q l947
United Mine Workers welfare and
retirement fund. Neither is the
point in issue the principle of such
q fund or whether it Is sound
undertaking. The principle and the
fund itself were established by .
contract entered into by the coal
operators and the coal miners.
BY that contact the coal opera
tors and the coal miners have COM
mitted themselves to the principle
of the fund and they have COM
mitted themselves to the proper ad-
ministration of the fund for the
purposes authorized in the contract.
The future of such a fund Is q
matter for determination by the
operators and the miners.
The contract entered into by the
miners and operators stipulates
that q portion Of the 1947 United
Mine Workers welfare and retire
ment fund shall be set aside for
pension purposes. The point at
issue here is whether and under
what conditions such portion shall
be set aside and pension fund
activated
The 1916 welfare and retirement
fund was created on May 20. 1916
am informed that in the q
months during which that fund has
existed no part OF 1t has ever been
set aside Or spent for pension
for any member of the union.
No Part Of Fund Used.
The ls47 fund was established by
agreement dated July 8, 1947, ef-
fective as Of July l, 1947. The rec
ords of the trustees indicate that
In the nine months intervening, nc
part of it has been set aside Or used
for any purpose.
I am advised, and I have no in
formation to the contrary, that the
stoppage of work on March IS, 1913
was caused by the failure Of the
trustees to activate either Of these
funds. I further understand that
the members of the union have in
dicated that unless and until a
proper sum Is set side for pension
purposes from the fund N the
hands of the trustees they do not
propose to return to their work.
This Is time in which the secur-
ity and economic stability of our
country require not only continuous
production but increased production.
The dangers involved In an indefi-
mite sctoppage Of coal mining are
plain for all to see. Idleness in a
basic industry adversely affects
every man, woman and child in
America.
l feel keenly my responsibility to
the people to help get the miners
back into the pits. In this time OF
national stress, it is unthinkable that
differences of opinion over the inter-
probation of an existing contract
should be allowed to place the secur-
ity of our country and the welfare
of the people In jeopardy.
Stress on Basic Issue.
No man could possibly go thor
oughly into all of the points at issue
in the brief time I have had. There
fore, / have concentrated upon the
basic issue with view to placing
before you suggestions which. con-
slider a fair basis upon which the
miners can return to work ard I've
can enter upon the exhaustive
study which must be made before
our decisions can be final.
In my resolution I make no at
tempt to finally settle the questions
involving legal or actuarial matters
In the weeks. ahead ! shall avail
myself of. expert advice In both
these fields In connection with this
whole issue, recent months are a
diary of inactivity. Today I am
concerned lest the basic question
again go unsolved and the country
suffer the consequences OF extended
idleness in the mines.
The decisions we as trustees make
are not Interchangeable. The oppor-
tunity to change them at any time
is guaranteed In my opinion, 1t is
better for the country that we ac-
cept any possible risk of action
rather than see the national security
and welfare threatened by our re-
fusal to act. /, therefore. offer my
resolution as basis for our tenta-
tive agreement from which we can
go forward sincerely to our ex-
haustive study of all the issues
and all the evidence.
Amount Can Be Changed.
My resolution proposes that from
the fund in the hands of the trustees
there shall be set aside $4,000, 600
for retirement benefits. This Is
SIS, ,000, 900 less than the amount
suggested by the trustee represent
ing the miners. The trustee repre-
senting the operators takes the
position that no portion of the fund
should be set aside for retirement
benefits at this time
I am satisfied that If the position
of the trustee for the operators
were adopted, the miners involved
in this dispute would not return to
work. I believe that the public well
fare requires an immediate resump-
tion Of mining operations. The
amount suggested in my resolution
can be changed If the complete
study we are to make indicates that
a higher allotment should be set
aside for pension pllrpoSes