Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-12-29
Big Mine Operators
To Join in Labor Law
Charge Against Lewis
By jones Y. Newton,


John L. Lewis and his United
Mine Workers today faced new
charges of unfair labor practices
resulting from the three-day mine
work week while the Government
considered a Is per cent cut in
coal-burning railroad passenger
service as a means of conserving
diminishing fuel supplies.
George H. Love of Pittsburgh,
chief spokesman for Northern and
Western soft coal mine owners,
said that his group, the largest
in the country, IS preparing to
file charges of unfair practices
with the National Labor Relations
Board. The group, according to
Mr.. Love, will follow Southern
producers. who yesterday asked
the NLRB to obtain a court in
junction to end the three-day
week.
The slash in passenger service
dependent on coal will be con-
sidered at a 4 pm. meeting OF
the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. Similar action was taken
in last falls 52-day mine strike.
]. Monroe johnson. an ICC men,
Der, has said that such action
may be necessary again. Mr..
johnson said that if the ICC
orders the service reduction 1t
would not become effective until
after the holidays - January
2 or 3.
Other Mine Developments.
There were these other develop
ments in the coal situation:
/. NLRB General Counsel Ro-
bert N. Denham studied the re-
quest of the Southern Coal Pro-
ducers Association for an in
junction to end the three-day
work week which Mr.. Lewis i'm
posed for the soft coal and an
thracite industries December l.
If Mr.. Denham agrees with the
producers that the UNIV has
been unfair" he would first issue
q formal complaint against the
miners and then request the court
order.
2. Senator Morse, Republican, of
Oregon, declared that President
Truman could not halt the three
day week as requested by some of
the mine operators.
The Southern producers several
weeks ago. declaring that the snort
work week was rapidly bringing
about a coal supply crisis. asked
the President to invoke the ma
tional emergency provisions of the
Taft Hartley Act. Chief weapon of
the labor law is an 80-day Fed
eral court injunction against a
strike.
Morse Interprets Law.
Senator Morse said his opinion
as lawyer is that the Presidents
emergency powers under the law
can be used only in cases where
there is an actual critical strike
or the threat of such a strike.
There is a. great difference"
the Senator said, between a dis
pute which causes economic losses <
and suffering and one which i'm
perils the national health or
safety. - e. II
"A coal dispute could very well {
reach such proportions, but OBJ II
viously the present one has not
done so to. date. nor is there any
likelihood it will if the three-day (
week is continued"
Senator Morse took sharp issue
with Senator Wherry of Nebraska. L
the Republican floor leader, who
two days ago said there was ode
plorable evidence of negligence"
in the fact Mr.. Truman has not
used the Taft-Hartley Act to re-
store full coal production.
There was no indication that
the President intended to invoke
the law, although he has said he
would not hesitate to use it if,
and when. he feels the coal short
age has created a true national
crisis. !.
There was no comment from Mr..
Lewis on the new developments in
his six-month battle with the coal
operators for a new contract CIV
ing increased benefits to his min
ers. In recent weeks he has signed
small operators producing in ex-
cess of 10000 900 tons of soft coal
q year to a new agreement calling
for 15-cent per ton increase in
the miners welfare and retire.