Evening star., 1948-04-14
Coal
Continued From First Page)

tention that the miners acted lin
concert" after receiving March
II, letter from Mr.. Lewis. In the
letter, Mr.. Lewis said the coal
operators had "dishonored" their
contract with 'the UNIV by re-
fusing to agree to pensions.
Mr.. Hopkins challenged, generally
unsuccessfully, nearly every state
ment made by DR.. Young as to the
amount of coal produced during the
strike and the number Of men not
working at various times.
Justice Goldsborough also over
ruled objections of defense counsel
of Mr.. Bassie's testimony showing
importance Of soft coal to the Ma
tons economy.
"Hearsay" Objections Ruled Out.
The court ruled out the "hearsay'
objections on grounds that testi-
mony of experts was necessary-be-
cause ''in this day and age in which
we live the conditions Of business
are based almost entirely on tables
and indices proposed by the experts.
Mr.. Bassie introduced numerous
tables showing stocks Of coal on
hand in various industries when the
strike started, how long they would
last, the amount of coal exported
and the Government order halting
exports because of the strike.
TT is perfectly evident" Justice
Goldsborough said when Mr.. Hop
kins objected to coal export figures
that this situation Ohe mine shut
DOWN affects this country deeply
and anything that interferes with
exports might seriously affect oul
national welfare"
On examination by Mr.. Hopkins
Mr.. Bassie said he knew OF NO
plants which had been forced to
shut down for lack of coal except
certain steel furnaces"
Political Evidence Charged.
Mr.. Hopkins drew from Mr.. Bas-
sic the admission that the export
quotas were administration policy
based on foreign policy and other
wise" When he began to question
the witness on how much coal had
been shipped to Russia, Justice
Goldsborough asked how such ques-
tioning would help the inquiry.
THE Government is attempting
to support this action by evidence,
the very nature OF which is political
ir kind" the union attorney de-
clared.
MIR. Bassie interposed that nc
coal was exported to Russia during
the last year.
It was then that Justice Colds
borough commented that Mt, Hop
kins was kicking the Government
on the shins" and Mr.. Hopkins said
the Government was entitled to 1t
when you take into consideration
the welfare Of the 400, 900 members
of this union and the 1000, 900 OF
5000, 900 persons dependent on it."
Mr.. Lewis back-to-work order
Monday followed an agreement
granting 500 monthly pension to
miners over the age of 81.
About half the 100000 miners have
gone back to work. Many were wait
ing to see how Mr. Lewis comes out
in this second encounter with Justice
Goldsborough.
No Limit on Penalty.
Mr.. Lewis and the union are
charged with both criminal and
civil contempt. There is no legal
limit on the penalty for civil con-
tempt. A Judge can impose any
fine or Jail sentence he wishes,
within the bounds or reason, Of
course.
The court contempt charges
result from the Governments ef-
forts to end the strike with ma
chinery provided by the Taft Hart
ley Act for dealing. with national
emergency strikes.
In accordance with that pro-
cedure, the Justice Department at
President Truman's direction, OBJ
tanned a To-day restraining order
from Justice Matthew Mcguire on
April 3. Two days later the order
was served on Mr.. Lewis and the
union.
Federal attorneys asked also an 30
day Taft-Hartley injunction against
the strike. Justice Goldsborough
will rule on the request after the
contempt trial He extended on
Monday the restraining order for
another IN dovs