Evening star., 1949-03-15
Lewis Appears Beaten
On Boyd, but Senate
May Cut Jobs Power
By Jones Y. Newton

by jones 7. Newton
John L. Lewis apparently has
failed in his spectacular attempt
to block Senate approval Of James
Boyd as director of the Federal
Bureau Of Mines, but a move is
still alive in Congress to trim
down Mr.. Boyd's job.
The Senate Interior Committee
gave its answer to Mr.. Lewis yes
terday in a l0-to-l Endorsement
Of Mr.. Boyd. and all signs indi-
Gated that the Senate will follow
suit when the nomination is
brought to the floor.
An estimated 463. 1000 soft and
hard coal miners are in the second
day Of two-weeks work stoppage
ordered by Mr.. Lewis as a protest
to President Truman's repeated
nomination of Mr.. Boyd. The mine
shutdown was made possible by
section of the United Mine Work
ers' contract which allows for peri
DDS of mourning for miners killed
at work.
Safety Hearings to Start Soon.
Just before giving Mr.. Boyd the
overwhelming vote of approval.
the Senate committee turned down
by narrow 6-to-5 margin an at
tempt to split away mine safety
from the supervision of Mr.. Boyds
bureau.
Chairman O'Mahoney said hear
ings will start soon on the whole
question of mine safety. A bill
by Senator johnson. Democrat. of
Colorado. would create a new bu-
reau of coal mine inspection
charged entirely with mine safety.
Meanwhile. the pinch caused by
the mine stoppage on operations
of the railroads increased, al
though most of industry depend
ent on coal was not affected.
The carriers began a progress
sive plan of layoffs and by the
md of the week more than 62 900
railroad workers will be idle.
Steel Output Shows No Effect.
The steel industry showed no
signs Of cutting operations. in
..ustry sources predicting that the
output of steel ingots and cast
lngs this week will exceed last
weeks production.
However. Bethlehem Steel said
1t had enough coal on hand for
only a few weeks operations. The
national coal stockpile of 70,000.-
900 tons. largest in seven years. is
expected to be reduced about 2O,-
100000 tons during the shutdown.
In the coal fields. the rank and
file Of miners didn't have much to
say about Mr.. Boyd and were more
concerned with attempts to get
unemployment compensation dur
ing the layoff.
Claims May be Taken to Court.
It was indicated that compen-
sation claims will be filed in Penn
sylvania and West Virginia. the
two largest coal producing states,
as well as in Indiana and Illinois.
But there were strong, indications !
that offclals of the States would
be reluctant to approve the claims. !
The union said 1t would take its
case to court If necessary. l
Senator OMahoney said the
johnson bill to split of mine
safety from the Bureau of Mines
will be considered at the hearings
as part Of the whole mine safety
problem. He seemed to think that
instead OF using that approach
to the problem the bureau should
be given the authority to enforce
Its mine safety recommendations. !,
At present only the States have
such enforcement powers.
Several bills 10 give the Bureau
OF Mines big stick TO WELD over
the coal industry have been in
troduced this session.
Another committee member,
Senator Malone. Republican. OF
Nevada, said a strong feeling"
had developed In the committee
In favor of the johnson bill. Mr..
Lewis and his miners would favor
such legislation.
Safety work should be given
more attention than is possible
under the present ARRANGEMENT.
no matter how competent the
director OF the Bureau OF Mines
might be-" Senator Malone said.
He predicted the Senate will fol-
low the committees recommends
ton and confirm Mr.. Boyd.
1t was not known whether Mr..
Lewis might feel better about Mr..
Boyd's appointment II the job
were tailored down. The miners
boss refused comment on the COM
mittee action.
Mr.. Boyd. former dean of the
Colorado School of Mines. has
been serving as Federal Bureau of
Mines director almost two years,
most of it without pay because he
has never obtained Senate con-
firmation. Once confirmed. he
could ask Congress to pay his back
wages.
1akoma Park Citizens Urge
New Term for Russell Young