Evening star., 1952-12-05
Mr.. Truman Explains

President Truman has produced novel and
shocking line of reasoning to justify his over
ruling of stabilization authorities on the coal
miners wage increase.
In his letter to Economic Stabiizer Putnam,
Mr.. Truman describes the stabzation program
both vital part of the mobilization effort and
vital to our security. He acknowledges there are
many reasons for upholding the Wage Stabiliza-
tion Boards decision to limit the wage increase
to 81 so rather than $19O daily. He grants that
allowing the extra 40 cents will "create problems"
for the stabilization program and could have IAN
unfavorable effect upon stabilization" He then
proceeds to disregard all of these concerns and
to dispute under a cloak OF special c1rcum-
stances" all of the effects which his stabilization
advisers have forecast will result from granting
the full increase.
He then-perhaps with tongue in cheek
declares his firm intention to continue strong
Stabilization program and turn it over to the new
administration as functioning, effective en-
tity." One wonders what strong stabilization
program" he means.
Mr.. Truman seeks to justify his action by
citing higher motive-a surprising solcitude
for his successor, President-elect Eisenhower Ac-
cepting the inevitability of strike if the miners
demands were not met-and he does not con-
denim such recourse on their part-he declares
that "the situation which it would cause would
be one the Government is not equipped to meet
and resolve promptly" BY his calculations, the
emergency" which would result from the man
ner in which his administration has handled the
matter would arise at just about the time my
successor took Office. not willing to take
an action that will create such a crisis for my
successor"
With only the labor members dissenting, the
WSB presented a careful explanation of its deci-
sion in October. Chairman Cox, Who has resigned
in protest of Mr. Truman's action, said the argu-
ments for the full increase "are not supported by
fact and are contrary to stabilization policies
applied to all other workers." The public men,
bers said that the value of the full package
negotiated by the miners "is more than any other
major settlement"
It was freely predicted when the strong
stabilization program" was bent to allow settle
ment in steel that it would be bent again to allow
one in coal This was indicated when John L.
Lewis called off the coal strike and called upon
Mr.. Truman before election day at the White
House. The steel settlement granting the union
demands was followed by price increase in
STEEL The coal settlement, by Mr.. Truman's fig
uring, will increase bituminouS costs by only flve
or six cents per ton and "the effect on ceilings
would be slight" But it is estimated that the
approved anthracite contract, also involving Mr.
Lewis and his United Mine Workers, will raise
hard coal prices as much 81 per ton The
consuming public of course, pays these increases
Meanwhile certain problem arises about
other unions, perhaps less persuasive politically
which in the past have accepted WSB rulings
unfavorabe to them, or have cases now pending.
There may be special circumstances found IN
their cases, or there may still be some "emer-
gencies" left to face President-elect Eisenhower.