Evening star., 1949-09-25
Steel Contract Talks
Resume Tomorrow,
Coal Hopes Are Dim
BY the Associated Press

Coal Hopes Are Dim
BY the Associated Press
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 24.-An
uneasy quiet today hung over
Americas vital coal and steel in
dustries after a week of rapid-flre
developments.
CIO United Steelworkers and in
dustry negotiators-f1nally brought
together again at the conference
table by President Truman-are
girding for a resumption in earnest
of their contract talks in an effort
to stave off strike next week end.
But the picture was not so bright
in coal. No prospects were in
sight for an end to the nationwide
mine strike as it ended its first
week.
Peace did return to the fields
after State police patrols squelched
a mild wave of violence.
Fuel Supply Dwindles.
The steel furnaces and coke
ovens dotting this busy industrial
area continued to devour a dwin-
ding supply of the vital fuel. In
another six days-if their owners
and the men who operate them
have not reached an agreement
they may have no need for coal.
A brief exploratory meeting be-
tween John Stephens, United
States Steel Corp. vice president,
and Philip Murray, ,Steelworkers
president. climaxed a hectic two
weeks of wrangling over condi-
tions for their getting together.
Steel and the USW have been
parleying over their new contract
since June Is. A presidential fact
finding board recommended in
dustry- financed pensions and So
cial insurance without a wage in
crease.
The industry, with big Steel"
setting the pace, baked at the
proposal that management con-
tribute the entire sum for the
benefits.
Mr.. Murray stands firm on
the boards recommendation. but
threatens to toss in a renewed
wage raise demand if industry
fails to go along with the pension
insurance plan.
First Session Exploratory.
Talks resumed after President
Truman won an extension of
second strike truce to 1901 am.
next Saturday.
Mr.. Murray and big Steel"
only broke the ice at their first
meeting exploratory and said
they'd get down to business Mon
day. Representatives of 10 other
steel firms sit down with USW
negotiating teams the same day
but are expected to mark time
pending outcome of the talks by
United States Steel, the indus
try's bellwether.
Other firms negotiating and 10
cations of the talks:
Allegheny-Ludlun, Jones &
Laughlin and Crucible. all in
Pittsburgh; Bethlehem Steel. New
York; Republic, Cleveland; Inland,
Indiana Harbor. Ind; Sharon
Steel. and Youngstown Sheet &
Tube, Youngston, Ohio; Rustless
Steel, Baltimore, and Shenango-.
Penn Mould. Sharpsville, Pa.
John L. Lewis miners continued
their mo day week" with no hopes
for even a start toward a settle
ment of differences with the mine
operators before the last of next
week.
Mine Talks Resume Thursday.
MIR. Lewis and Northern and
Western operators spokesmen re-
cessed their sporadic talks at
White Sulphur Springs until next
Thursday. The UNIV leader said
no progress in negotiations could
be expected while the steel talks
are in progress.
The miners in an unprecedented
move continued work beyond the
expiration of their contract June
80 But work came TO halt in
two industry-crippling steps.
Mr.. Lewis decreed a three day
week east of the Mississippi July
1. Last Monday without a public
word from the UMW's stormy boss
the miners quit the pits entirely.
They aScribed the walkout to
suspension of the miners welfare
fund payments. The funds trus-
tees, including Mr.. Lewis, blamed
the suspension on Southern oper-
ators stopping their 20 cents ton
royalty payments. It's all hooked
UP with Mr.. Lewis contract fight.
A wave of sporadic violence
swept through some fields of West
Virginia and Western Pennsyl-
vania during the week. In most
cases non-union strip mines were
involved. Trucks and coal cars
were dumped and a few arrests
made. There were no serious in
juries.
State police were ordered into
the coal fields by the governors of
the twol States in midweek. The
motorized picketing halted after
police had set up patrols in the
an early resumption of service" ;"
area.
Adding to the woes of coal
seeking housewives in New Eng
land was the walkout of 200 train
men, conductors, firemen and
engineers of the Lehigh and New
England Railroad.
The freight line carries anthra-
cite from Eastern Pennsylvania to
a terminal in New York for trans
shipment to New England.
The strikers are members of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire
men and Enginemen. Order of
Railway Conductors and the
Brotherhood of Railroad Train
men.