Evening star., 1948-03-17
Facts Demanded
ByCongressi in
Coal a|Dispute
Boil Tells Operators
And Lewis to Reply
Within 48 Hours
PRESIDENTIAL BOARD due Ia
begin work in packers strike.
Page A-3.
BY Jones Y. Newton

BY Jones 7. Newton
Congress today demanded of
John L. Lewis and the operators
"all facts" within 48 hours re-
garding the soft-coal dispute
which threatens to close nearly
all of the Nations bituminous
pits.
Senator Ball. Republican, of Min
nesota, chairman of the special
congressional watchdog" committee
on labor relations, disclosed he had
telegraphed Mr.. Lewis and Ezra
Van ~. operators representa-
tive, : . the facts behind the
walkouG. He said these were needed
because the committee must con-
slider what further steps it should
take In the matter"
Meanwhile, administration Of
flcials considered the use, of media
ton in an effort to settle the dispute
over the miners pension before
resorting to sterner measures aimed
at the walkout.
Steel Facing Problem.
More than $4,000 United Mine
Workers had left the pits in support
OF John l.. Lewis demand for 500
monthly pension. Other thousands
were expected to quit work today.
Reports from coal-producing States
indicated that four out of every five
mines already were closed.
In the steel capital of Pittsburgh
and elsewhere, steelmen were facing
the problem of how soon to begin re-
ducing production to save fuel. The
industry was faced with the de-
clsion Of whether to proceed full
blast and risk complete shutdown If
the coal strike continues or to con-
serve limited coal stocks by proceed
ing at reduced speed. The latter
was the likely decision.
Government officials indicated
they would let the situation sim
mer" a few days before taking any
action. After that a direct effort
may be made to get the operators
and Mr.. Lewis together in media
cASAi lACNGl1lS-
Board Would Be Necessary.
Failing at more peaceful efforts,
the White House probably viii be
asked to declare national emer-
gency under the Taft-Hartley Act.
This would involve appointment of
an emergency fact-finding board by
President Truman and request
to the union to return to work until
the board reported.
However, it was not believed that
Mr.. Lewis. major foe of the new
labor relations law, would follow the
machinery for settling big strikes
prescribed by the Taft Hartley Act.
The Government could not obtain
an injunction against the 'stoppage
until the fact-finding board had re-
ported and that would entail a de-
lay of probably 10 additional days.
1t is considered doubtful whether
Mr.. Lewis and the miners would
obey an injunction even then. Mr..
Lewis could take the position that
he had nothing to do with starting
the walkout, that the men merely
were exercising their right under
the contract to work only when
able and wiling
UNIV Headquarters Silent.
UNIV headquarters remained si-
lent on the miners threat not to
return to work until their full pen
sion demand is granted. Lacking
was any appeal to the men to re-
turn to the pits.
Mr.. Lewis and the union ignored
a Federal court injunction in late
1896 Both were fined for contempt
of court. However. at the time the
Government was in possession Of
the mines and broad war powers
still in force provided a much more
effective weapon for dealing with
the emergency.
There were reports. unconfirmed,
that the Justice Department was
considering action against the stop
page independent of the Taft-Hart-
ley Act These reports said that
court papers were being prepared.
but no one could say under what
authority such action could be taken.
Declared Contract "Dishonored."
Mr.. Lewis touched off the stop
page, according to the operators.
with a letter last Friday to the
miners. He said the opera tors had
"dishonored" the contract signed
last July by failing to agree on use
of the welfare and retirement fund,
now in excess Of s30,000,000 Union
sources contend the industry caused
the walkout by its comments on the
Lewis letter.
Mr. Van Horn, operators trustee
(See COAL, Page A-4J