Evening star., 1950-03-05
Coal Pact Due Today;
End Of Strike May Be
Delayed Until Tuesday
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dent, said they wanted to see the
completed contract.
On the other hand, Mr.. Lewis
was understood to hold the posi-
ton that the Southerners must
pay what they owe to the UWM's
welfare and retirement fund be-
fore they can sign the new agree
ment. 1t was said that 191 South
ern companies are about IS. MIL
lion in arrears in their fund pay
ments.
The sudden coal peace plan
caused President Truman to drop
his request for special legislation
empowering the Government to
seize and operate the mines as a
strike-end measure. However, he
will press for legislation setting
up commission to make a 5hor-
ough study of what he terms the
economically sick coal industry
The Interstate Commerce Com
mission Cancelled its new order for
a cut of Is per cent in both pas
senger and freight railroad serv-
ice powered by coal-burning en-
gines. Earlier reductions of so
per cent in passenger service and
rs per cent in freight still stand
because of the continuing coal
shortage.
In the new agreement Mr..
Lewis wins the equivalent of
about $1.40 a day for each of his
miners. 1t was quite a triumph
for Mr.. Lewis personally. Whether
the miners made out so well is
questionable. Many of them are
hungry and nearly all of them
are broke as a result of the
nine-month contract battle in
terspersed with strikes and three
day work weeks.
Highest Wage in Big Industry.
The miners receive a 70-cent
wage increase, bringing the aver
age pay to STATS a day, by far
the highest in any big industry
Operator payments into the well
fare fund are increased 10 cents
per ton on all coal produced. It
brings the total contribution to
80 cents a ton, or about 80 mil
lion a year.
1t was understood the contract
runs until June 80. 1852. But it
may be reopened by either side
after April /, 1851, on 80 days
notice.
Mr.. Lewis lost two big weapons
he has used frequently to shut
down the industry and put it on
a three day week. The most inn
portant was an old contract clause
which says the miners will work
only when liable and willing"
The other big Lewis weapon
was a provision for unlimited mine
memorial work stoppages. The
new contract limits memorial
periods to a total of five days a
year.
Other Provisions UNCHANGED.
Most other contract provisions
remain unchanged from the old
agreement which expired last
June 80.
The big problem for the lawyers
yesterday was to write around
an injunction issued three weeks
ago by Judge Richmond B. Keech
terming some contract provisions
as probably unfair.
These include the union shop
which does not meet the require
ments of the Taft-Hartley Act.
and the limitation of welfare fund
benefits to union members only.
The National Labor Relations
Board and the court will have to
decide those issues eventually.
The makeup of the trustee
board to administer the welfare
fund also caused some trouble. It
was understood that Mr.. Kennedy
would replace Mr.. Lewis and the
unions representative.
Another close friend of Mr..
Lewis. Miss Josephine Roche, one
time Colorado coal operator, was
slated to be the new neutral"
trustee. She presently is the di-
rector of the fund. She would
succeed Senator Bridges, Demo-
crat, of New Hampshire. who has
served for nearly two years.
The operators trustee had not
been definitely selected. Men
toned for that job we're Harvey
l.. Cartwright of Indiana, Harry
M. Moses and George H. Love,
both Pittsburgh operators. The
three are the principal negotiators
for the Northern Western-"cap-
tive" group.
Meanwhile, the Government
yesterday appealed the UNIV ac-
quittal of civil contempt charges
before the United States Court of
Appeals.
Immediately after filing ap-
peal notice. Assistant Attorney
General H. Graham Morrison
moved for the court to speed a
hearing date on the question of
validity of Judge Richmond B.
Keech's ruling in the contempt
case last Thursday. The Gov
ernment cannot appeal the GRIM
inal contempt acquittal.
Appeals Court Rejects Plea.
The Appeals Court. after 90
minute special session on the
hearing advancement motion,
turned down the request.
Chief Judge Harold M. Stephens
declared that "as a practical mat
ter" no purpose would be served to
speed hearing since agreement
In the coal dispute apparently is
imminent.
Mr.. Morrison told the court the