Evening star. [volume], June 24, 1948, Image 1

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
Weather Forecast! R,ade”
Warm and humid today and tonight, eve- After Dark.A-20 Lost and Found. A-S
nlng shower lilcely. Highest today around 95; Amusements —A-26 Obituary .Ar22
lowest near 7A Tomorrow thundershowers in comics.C-10-11 Radio ..C-ll
afternoon. (Full report on Page A-2.) I Editorial .A-14 Society, Clubs...B-3
Midnight _.77 8 a.m-76 1pm..93 i Edit ial Articles, A-15 ' Sports ..C-l-3
4 am-74 10 a.m-80 2 p.m.94 j Finance .A-27 i Woman s Page..A-24
6 a.m_73 Noon_88 3 p.m_92 I ___
L Lote New'York Morkeh, Paw A-2T~ _ _ Aa A^iced N..^p.,-.
96th Year. No. 176. Phone NA. 5000. *** WASHINGTON, D. 0., THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 1918-FIFTY-SIX PAGES. 5 CENTS
G.O.P. VOTING BEGINS, MANY STATES SPLIT
First 16 States Give Dewey 112,
Taft 55,Warren 54andGreen56
. . ■ » --— «
BULLETINS
CONVENTION HALL, Philadelphia.—The Repub
lican convention started its first roll call vote for
President at 2:35 p.m. today. After 16 States had been
Soiled the margin for Gov. Dewey was less than had
een anticipated, as many State delegations divided
their votes.
With 16 States accounted for, Gov. Dewey had
112; Taft, 55; Stassen, 32; Vandenberg, 5; Warren, 54;
Green, 56 ;Baldwin, 19, and MacArthur 3.
PHILADELPHIA (/P>.—Gov. Dewey’s nomination
on the first or second ballot was predicted just before
the Republican convention convened for its seventh
session at 2:15 p.m. today by Walter S. Hallanan,
West Virginia national committeeman. Mr. Hallanan,
who also is chairman of the convention Committee on
Arrangements, said the plan was to have Gov. Dewey
come to Convention Hall' within 30 minutes afterward
to deliver his acceptance speech.
A little later, Representative Brown of Ohio. Taft
campaign manager, said he thought agreement was
near on a single candidate to oppose the New Yorker.
By Gould Lincoln
Star Staff Correspondent
PHILADELPHIA. June 24.—Prospects for early nom
ination—perhaps on the first or second ballot—of Gov.
Dewey of New York as the Republican presidential candi
date took a sharp upturn shortly before the balloting was
to begin this afternoon.
The New Yorker won the support of Massachusetts’ Senator
Saltonstall, who bowed out as the Bay State's favorite son in
favor of Gov. Dewey. West Virginia went over to the Dewey
bandwagon with probably 15 of its 16 votes.
It appeared that any “stop Dewey” coalition is up against
almost insuperable odds in trying to head off a second presidential
nomination for the 46-year-old Governor.
(A key Midwestern leader who has fought the Dewey
nomination told the Associated Press, “It's all over,” but
asked not to be quoted by name.i
Senator Saltonstall announced he was withdrawing as a
favorite son “in the best interest of the Republican Party in
Massachusetts. He said he personally is for Gov. Dewey and had
asked his delegation to “exercise their own best judgment.” Vir
tually all of the State’s 35 votes are expected to be found in the
Dewey column despite the fact that Senator Lodge is for Senator
Vandenberg of Michigan and Sinclair Weeks, the State's national
committeeman, is for Senator Taft of Ohio.
Support From Hallanan.
The new support from West Virginia came when the State's
national committeeman, Walter S'. Hallanan, went over to Dewey.
Mr. Hallanan is chairman of the convention’s Arrangements Com
mittee. One of Mr. Hallanan's associates predicted 15 of the State’s
16 votes would go to the New Yorker on the first ballot. The 16th
man was reported ready to switch on the second vote.
About the time Senator Salton
stall was making his announcement.
Col. Robert R. McCormick, publisher
of the Chicago Tribune, got out a
statement saying “Dewey will not
be nominated because the delegates
realize he will be hard to elect.’'
The DUblisher is for Senator Taft.
Col. McCormick charged that
"every one knows that the Indiana
delegation was bought by the Vice
Presidential nomination for 'Rep
resentative Charles) Halleck after
Gov. Green (of Illinois) turned
down (he ofler for the Illinois dele
gation."
Coalition Continues Striving.
Meanwhile, the Stassen-Taft-Duff
coalition continued to strive lor
some course which would halt the
Dewey bandwagon. Their difficulty,
however, is that neither Senator
Taft nor Mr. Stassen is willing to
quit and give up his chance for the
nomination.
One maneuver which the coalition
may attempt is to ask for a recess of
the convention for 3 hours after the
first ballot is taken, hoping for fur
ther time in which to work some
thing out.
It would be amazing, however, if
the convention should agree to-any
such recess. The delegates, tired as
they are, are anxious to get on with
the business of nominating a Presi
dent and Vice President.
The District of Columbia delega
tion of 3 votes is going to Gov.
Dewey, it was learned today.
Stassen Sees Weakness.
Mr. Stassen. at a press conference,
continued to insist that Dewey wras
on the toboggan, instead of being an
asset, he said, the action of Indi
ana last night in switching its 29
votes to Gov. Dewey en bloc was
another sign of weakness.
Indiana's action was taken to
strengthen the candidacy of Repre
sentative Charley Halleck of In
diana. the majority leader of the
House for the vice presidential nom
ination.
The lack of interest so far shown
In the candidacy of Senator Van
denberg of Michigan for the presi
dential nomination by the delegates
to the National convention has put
a damper on prospects of nominat
ing him as a compromise.
Warren Keeps Aloof.
There is a strong feeling, how
ever, with many of the delegates
that If they have to compromise.
Gov. Earl Warren of California
Today's Program
Voting on Candidates
Due at Convention
ly th« Associated Press
•PHILADELPHIA, June 24—To
dav's convention program:
Call to order at 2 p.m. by Speaker
Martin, permanent chairman.
Balloting to select the candidate
for President
Nominations for Vice President.
Balloting to select the candidate
for Vice President.
Election of National Committee
Appointment of committees tc
notify the candidates for President
and Vice President.
Adjournment.
(Note: The convention will re
sume tomorrow If the voting on
candidates for President and
Vice President has not been com
pleted.)
m
would be an excellent choice. Gov.
Warren has kept himself clear of
any coalition to beat anybody, in
cluding Gov. Dewey. He has been
for himself, first, last and all the
time and for no one else.
Senator Taft conferred with Utah
and Kentucky delegates as well as
carrying on what he termed a lot
of "telephone conferences." Asked
whether he was making any prog
ress. the Ohioan replied:
"Yes, I think so."
Gov. Sigler of Michigan, who
nominated Senator Vandenberg last
night, said he would poll his dele
gation to indicate where they would
go if the nomination appears lost to
the Senator. He said:
"By the tame we get down to the
end of the second roll call we ought
to hate a pretty good idea w'hat's
happening and I w ant to know what
the delegates have :n mind.”
Hopes for Michigan Votes.
Gov. Dewey was born in Michi
gan and has hopes of gaining the1
State's votes if they are cast for
some one other than Senator Van
denberg.
The Dewey camp was disappoint
ed with the results of a Kansas
delegation caucus, which showed 12
of the 19 votes for Gov. Dewey on
the first ballot with the seven others
scattered among Senator Taft, Sen
ator Vandenberg, Mr. Stassen and
Speaker Martin. Dewey men had
claimed 14 to 16 Kansas votes.
In every test during the conven
tion. the Dewey camp has been a
winner. In every break of dele
gates from favorite sons." Gov.i
Dewey has been the benefactor. >
Despite svM claims of the Taft and
Stassen managers, and of Senator
Taft and Mr. Stassen themselves,
Gov. Dewey appears on the march
to victory. The movement has been
toward the New Yorker and away
from other candidates, and Dewey
(See CONVENTION-Page-A~47t
7 Names Placed
In Nomination
At Long Session
Delegates Are Weary;
Hear Speeches From
9:30 P.M. to 4 A.M.
By J. A. O'Leary
Star Staff Correspondent
PHILADELPHIA, June 24.—
Weary delegates to the Repub
lican convention plodded limply
out of Convention Hall when the
final gavel fell at 4:02 a.m. today
and headed back to their hotel
beds.
They had listened since 9:30
o'clock last night to a steady pro
cession of would-be President
makers striding to the platform to
nominate and second seven candi
dates with adjectives and superla
tives.
One by one the speech makers
closed with only slight variations of
those magic words, "I give you the
man who can lead the party to vic
tory'' or "I give you the next Presi
dent of the United States.”
Big Moment Long Awaited.
For days these nominating ora
tors had waited for their moment
in the glare of the convention lights,
and when the moment came they
put their all into the eloquent
words they had penned, but mast
of them must have realized as they
spoke that they were doomed to
disappointment.
Probably there have been rare
occasions in political history when
a silver-tongued orator has swayed
a doubtful convention at the last
moment.
But more often than not. the del
egates have argued out their dif
ferences in State caucuses, far from
the cheering throng. Early in the
morning and late at night during
the first few days of the convention,!
these State conferences go on in a
dozen or more hotels. There the
oratory is less flowery, but more ef
fective, and by the time the formal
nominating speeches are made,
nearly every delegate is wearing
a button, proclaiming the fact that
he has already cast his lot with;
this or that contender.
Listen Attentively.
Attentively delegates listened while,
each candidate was pictured as the|
one best qualified to lead the Grand i
Old Party back into the White
House. But as they listened nearly
every delegate already had tucked
under his chair the banner of
their choice, ready to raise it
high and join in the parade when
the candidate's name at long last
was mentioned.
And, so when the roll is called to
day the delegates will be ready to
'See'NOMINATIONS. Page A-4.'
Hungarian Chiefs Reported
Ordered Excommunicated
By the Associated Press
VATICAN CITY, June 24.—Re
ports reached the Vatican today
that Josef Cardinal Mindszenty,
primate of Hungary, has excom
municated the members of the Hun- j
garian government and Parliament
who on June 16 nationalized Hun
gary's Catholic schools.
Announcement of the excommu-.
ideation, the reports said, came in
the form of publication of an article
in the Code of Canon Law pro
viding such action, "a priori."
against persons "passing laws, de
crees or resolutions against the lib
erty and rights of the holy mother
church.'’
A commentary attached to thc;
article by Cardinal Mindszenty
made it ciear these rights included
educating Catholic children in
Catholic schools, the reports added.
All-Day Morning After Follows
All-Night Convention Bedlam
- «
Delegates Shriek,
Shout, March, Dance
And Sometimes Boo
By Newbold Noyes, Jr.
Star Staff Correspondent
PHILADELPHIA. June 24.—No
matter how quickly it may be
over, choosing this candidate is
going to be rough going all the
way. Physically, I mean! Be
cause this, if ever there was one.
is the morning after. And it
. will stay the morning after all
afternoon.
. For more than seven hours last
night, ending at 4:02 this morning,
these people whooped it up in a
• blaring, glaring inferno that made
Dante's seem mild. While the World
. watched and listened, they shouted,
i shrieked, stamped, danced, marched,
t blew whistles, rang belts, carried
signs, threw confetti, made speeches,
sang songs and generally beat them
selves to a frazzle in behalf of seven
men—one of whom, they are sure,
is to be the nest President of the
i United States.
| Some times, Just to make certain
ft
D. C. Standard Joins
Dewey Parade—and
Taft's and Stassen's
By a Staff Corr»ipond*nt of Tho Star
PHILADELPHIA. June 24
District delegates last night
joined in the wild, noisy parades
that marked the nominations
of several of the Republican
candidates.
Tire District banner was car
ried in the Dewey demonstra
tion by George A. Parker. It
again was spotted in the Taft
show and also was swept into
the sea of signs of the Stas
senites.
The District delegation today
announced it would back Gov.
Dewey.
there was no doubt of the fact they
were real Americans, they even
booed. Democracy is that way.
The boos, as well as some of the
loudest cheers, came as Senator
Martin of Pennsylvania started the
ball rolling by nominating Gov.
Dewey. A number of delegates ap
i (See NOYES, Page A-S.)
K %
Gen. Clay Warns
Reds on Berlin
Power Cutoff
Actions Short of War
Won't Oust U. S. From
City, He Says
By the Associated Press
BERLIN, June 24.—The Rus
sians disrupted the power supply
and freight shipments in West
ern Berlin today, but Gen. Lu
cius D. Clay served notice that
no action short of war is going to
force the Americans from this
city.
Gen. Clay, the American military
governor, .‘■aid in Heidelberg that the
latest moves by the Russians indi
cate they "are trying to put on the
final pressure to drive us out of Ber
lin.'’ He said this could not be ac
complished "by any action short of
war.’’
All food shipments on rail lines
running from Western Germany
were halted. Power from plants in
the Soviet zone was restored in most
sections of Berlin this afternoon
after cuts of varying length, but it
was expected to be turned off again
later in the evening.
Water Supply Adequate.
Gen. Clay said he had no plans
for cutting off water and power to
parts of the Soviet zone supplied
from the American area state of
Bavaria. He said the western sec
tors of Berlin had enough water
supplies of their own and could fur
nish about half the normal power
consumption of the area.
The official Soviet and German
Communist press demanded anew
that the Western Allies quit the
city.
The Berlin power shutdown
affected the United States, British
and French zones. The only areas
spared were those where hospitals
or other important publiS institu
tions are located.
The Soviet-controlled Berlin radio
announced that the western sectors
must expect more power shutoffs
during the night. This amounted
to a warning of day and night cut
offs apparently intended to prevent
factories which shut down during
the day from engaging in night
operations.
Water Service Disturbed.
Reports from the French sector
said water service was being dis
turbed there.
The Russians and German Com
munists threatened economic re
prisals against any of the 3.400.000
Berliners who accept the Western
Allies’ new currency. The Russians
have decreed the currency illegal
and ordered use of their own new
money for the entire city.
When conversion begins In West
ern Berlin tomorrow a German who
turns in his old money for the new
Deutsche mark must accept a stamp
on his personal identification papers
to prevent repeating conversions.
Seizing upon this, the Soviet
controlled radio warned the popu
lation: "Any one who accepts that
stamp will be marked as a person
who violated the order of Soviet
Commander-in-Chief Marshal Soko
lovsky."
The radio reminded that "frozen
bank balances of Berliners are
locked up in banks of the Soviet
sector of the city. Any one who is
identified as having taken the
western currency will never be able
to collect on those frozen accounts
when they are released.”
Socialists Defiant.
The radio urged residents of
Western Berlin to go into the So
viet sector for the new Russian
stamped currency being issued to
(See GERMANY, Page A-6.1
Fire Bombs Rained
#'
On Rebels by Greeks
By the Aisociofed Press
SECOND ARMY CORPS HEAD
QUARTERS. Kozane. Greece. June
24.—The Greek Army rained 500
pound firebombs today on Commu
nist rebels fighting desperately to
defend the eastern flank of their
Grammos Mountain stronghold.
Captured guerrillas said their
losses on Amouda Ridge, northwest
of Nestorion. were •‘terrific.” They
were slammed by artillery and
planes all day yesterday.
A high-ranking Greek officer said
the tough Amouda fight, though
apparently holding up the army's
advance, was serving the purpose of
a powerful offensive aimed at
smashing the Communist rebellion.
"Our job is to kill and destroy
bandits.” the officer said. "That’s
what's happening on Amouda.”
Unofficial reports listed nearly 600
guerrilla casualties since the offen
sive started Sunday night. Rebel
Leader Markos Vafiades was report
ed then to have about 7,000 men in
the 1.000-mile square Grammos
pocket.
In London, the Communist “Free
Greece” radio was heard broadcast
ing a report that the guerrilla
forces succeeded in their first coun
terattack Tuesday, routing a bat
talion. Vafiades was quoted as say
ing his men were displaying “un
flinching courage” before the of
fensive.
X
wait A
MINUTE! ,,
I'M AVAILABLE
Largest Mass Police Promotion
Names 3 as Assistant Chiefs
Talley, Letterman and Kelly Appointed
Under Fund Bill; 105 Members Elevated
In the largest promotion move
in the history of the Police De
partment here, three inspectors
will become assistant superin
tendents and three captains
have been named inspectors,
Supt. Robert J. Barrett an
nounced today.
The changes become effective
July 1. Appointment of the three
new assistant superintendents was
authorized in the 1949 District ap
propriation bill passed at the recent
congressional session.
A total of 105 members of the
force were on the list, including six
new captains. There were 25 ser
geants raised to lieutenant, eight
precinct detectives made detective
sergeants, 20 corporals to sergeant,
32 promoted to corporal and the
others ranging from probationary
detective to precinct detective.
Inspectors Clarence Talley, Oscar
J. Letterman and Floyd E. Kelly
have been appointed assistant sup
perintendents, Maj. Barrett an
nounced. Captains George Wall
rodt of No. 3 precinct, William J.
Cunningham of No. 10 and Clarence
Lutz of No. 4 were named inspectors.
Inspector Talley. 53, a former
member of the District Boxing
Commission, now heads the third
police district. An inspector since
1941, he joined the force in July,
1917. He became a detective ser
geant in November, 1927, a lieu
tenant in 1933 and a captain in
1939, in command of No. 7. He has
received four commendations.
Inspector Letterman. 56, who
gained a reputation as a racket
smasher, entered the department in
July, 1921. Previously he had served
in the Army for 11 years and for
a year on the Kansas City, Mo.,
police force. In 1925-26 he was a
White House policeman. Returning
to the Metropolitan Police, he be
came a lieutenant in 1928 and a
captain in 1938. He has been an
inspector since August. 1945, and
has been in charge of the first police
district since February. 1947. While
an inspector he headed a special
i See POLiCE, Page A-6.1
Fight Appears Set
As Sun Dispels
Early Overcast
(Fight Details on Sport Page:)
ly the Associated Press
NEW YORK. June 24.—A bright
sun burned its way through a heavy
overcast today and indications were
that the Joe Louis-Jersey Joe Wal
cott heavyweight title fight would
go on as scheduled at 10 o'clock to
night.
The bout, to be held in Yankee
Stadium, was postponed yesterday
because of rain.
An earlier fog which covered the
New York area and the overcast
which threatened rain tied up ship
ping in the harbor and forced can
cellation of many flights at La
Guardia Field.
The Weather Bureau, however,
still forecast showers this evening.
Irgun Vows to Rise
Against Israel After
Gun-Running Fails
Government Faces Crisis
Following Resignation
Of 2 From Cabinet
By the Associated Press
TEL AVIV, Israeli, June 24.
—Irgun Zvai Leumi surveyed
heavy losses of manpower today
in an ill-fated attempt at gun
running and vowed to rise
against the Israeli government.
The crisis over the Irgun arms
ship Altalena led to the resignation
of two cabinet ministers yesterday
even while government forces made
a series of arrests.
Peter H. Bergson of New York,
head of the Hebrew Committee of
National Liberation, and 25-year
old Monroe Fein of Chicago, cap
tain of the arms slip, were reported
by Jewish sources to have been ar
rested. The government refused
comment.
60 Jews Are Arrested.
Israeli shock troops were reported
to have captured 60 Jews, believed
to be among Irgunists who landed
from the arms ship, in a series of
raids on Revisionist Party head
(See PALESTINE, Page A-6TT
Chinese Flood Kills 130
NANKING, June 24 (JP).—Chinese
Central News Agency, quoting the
Foochow Police Bureau, reported
today that 130 persons were killed
and 70 injured in the recent Min
River flood. First estimates said
hundreds drowned.
*
Mercury Jumps to 95,
Hottest Day of Year;
Some Offices to Close
High of 95 Predicted;
Two Persons Overcome;
Rain Expected Tonight
The temperature was 95 at
2:05 p.m.
The hottest day of the year
thus far sent the mercury up to
93 at 1 p.m. as about 5.000 Dis
trict employes and a few Fed
eral workers in non-air-condi
tioned buildings were to be let
off for the day at 3 p.m.
The temperature was expected to
reach 95 degrees. The year’s pre
vious high was 90 on May 11.
The continued hot, humid weath
er followed heat in which two Wash
; ington residents were” reported to
| have been overcome yesterday and
last night.
District officials, at the direction
of Commissioner John Russell
Young, were notifying employes they
could take off after 3 p.m. if they
worked in offices without air con
ditioning.
Heads of the United States Em
ployment Service and Bureau of
Labor Statistics were told by Labor
Department officials they could dis
miss employes in temporary build
ings near the Mall if they found
! that the lack of air-cooling systems
was to uncomfortable.
The latest heat victim was Detec
tive Sergt. Andrew J. McCallum, 52,
of the general assignment squad,
who was stricken shortly after mid
night as he left a meeting at 935
G place N.W. He was treated at
Emergency Hospital and was re
rsee WEATHER, Page A-6~
Ship Union Hiring Hall
Requirement Violates
Taft Act, NLRB Rules
Examiner Says NMU
Should Be Forced to
Drop Contract Clause
A National Labor Relations
Board trial examiner ruled to
day that the CIO National Mari
time Union and seven of its of
ficials have violated the Taft
Hartley Act by attempting tc
force four Great Lakes oil tankei
firms to continue hiring new
employes through union hirins
halls.
The union hiring hall, which ha
been used widely in recent years ii
the shipping industry, leads to i
closed shop, which is banned by th
Taft-Hartley Act.
Seven maritime unions recentl;
were enjoined by Federal court
from striking over a dispute witl
the maritime industry largely ove
the question of continuing the usi
of the hiring hall custom.
U. S. Fears Widespread Strikes.
Federal 'Officials are concernet
that unless a solution to that issu<
can be found, a widespread striki
will develop along the Nation'!
waterfronts upon the expiration 01
the 80-day injunctions.
In the decision announced today
the examiner, Howard Myers, saic
the Taft-Hartley Act "now prohibits
the hiring-hall clause, as writter
into the contracts" between th<
NMU and the Great Lakes shippers
He added "this clause is clearlj
repugnant to the act.”
The union official named in Mr
Myers’ decision included JosepI
Curran, the international NMl
president.
Cessation Order Urged.
Mr. Myers recommended that thi
NMU and the seven officials be or
dered by the NLRB to stop "requir
ing that employers agree to securi
their respective unlicensed person,
nel through the medium of the hir
ing halls maintained and operate!
by NMU.” He also recommendei
that the union, on request, bargaii
in good faith with the companies.
Employes of the four companie
went on strike May 13 and returnei
to work after Attorney Genera
Clark got the Federal court injunc
tion .June 14.
Unless Mr. Myers' decision is con
tested within 20 days it will tak
effect as an NLRB order enforce
able in the United States Circui
Court of Appeals.
Courts Extend Strike Bans
As Injunctions Expire
NEW YORK, June 24 oP>.—Nev
Federal Court orders barring threat
ened shipping strikes on three coast
and in the Great Lakes regioi
were in effect today.
The orders were issued in Nev
York, San Francisco and Clevelam
yesterday—on the eve of expira
tion of temporary strike bans ob
tained by the Government.
In New York, the full force of i
Taft-Hartley Act clause was in
voked by Federal Judge John W
!See MARITIME, Page A-6.)
G. W. U. Law Class Collapses;
Literally, That Is, With Ceiling
Prof. S. C. Oppenheim’s law dis
course on negotiable instruments
this morning was. by his own admis
sion. “dull and technical"—not
enougn to Dring
down the ceil
ing, he thought.
But down it
came—a 6-foot
triangular sec
tion of plaster
from George
Washington
University's
Stockton Hall
1 a w classroom
on the third
floor.
The plaster,
which later filled
a good - sized
ashcan, injured
Prof. Oppenbeia
i two student*, neitner seriously. rney
I
were Ralph Kuchler, 23. of 201!
Massachusetts avenue N.W.. wh<
suffered a lacerated scalp, am
James E. Fitzsimmons. 33. of 531
Twentieth street N.W.. a partly dis
abled Navy veteran, who was hos
pitalized at the university hospita
for shock.
Prof. Oppenheim said he hear*
a crackling. "It sounded as thougl
the students were clipping thei
notebooks.
"I looked up and saw the plaste
cracking." Students followed hi
gaze; then scattered for cover.
Four engine companies, two trucl
companies, a rescue squad, a bat
talion chief and a deputy chief re
sponded to the call.
A short time later a building in
spec tor had barricaded the room it
the 23-year-old building for furthei
Inspection.
I
Lewis Winning
$1-a-Day Raise,
Double Royalty
Most Coal Operators
Ready to Capitulate;
Tentative Pact Drawn
By James Y. Newton
John L. Lewis and soft coal
operators were near agreement
today on a new coal industry
: contract which is understood to
'provide for a $l-a-day increase
in miners’ wages and the dou
bling of the “royalty” of the
United Mine Workers’ welfare
and retirement fund.
All segments of the coal industry
with exception of the “captive" or
steel-company owned mines and
some of the Southern producers are
said to have agreed with Mr. Lewis
on the new contract terms.
The operators were meeting with
Mr. Lewis at UMW headquarters
this afternoon, working out final •
details of the contract, which will
take effect July 1. Harry M. Moses,
chief negotiator for the “captive'*
operators, did not attend the meet
ing and was described as a holdout
in the agreement.
Most Southerners Agree.
The Southern Coal Producers As
sociation was represented at the
meeting with Mr. Lewis and most
of its members were reported to
have agreed to the basic contract
terms this morning, it was learned,
after several heated sessions of as
sociation directors with their presi
dent, Joseph E. Moody.
The prospect that the contract
will be completed before the day Is
over indicates that the much-feared
possibility of another Nation-wide
coal strike after the present indus
try contract expires June 30 will
be averted.
only two major criangcs, n
said, will be made in the new con
tract. These are:
1. The $l-a-day wage boost which
increases the daily pay of the
average miner to $14.05.
2. The increase in the wellara
; fund royalty from 10 cents per ton
on all coal produced to 20 cents,
which will provide about $100,000,000
> a year for distress and disability
1 payments to miners and their
1 dependents, and for the much
■ disputed issue of pensions for the
mine workers.
' “Able and Willing" Clause Stays.
’ The miners will continue to work
| an 8-hour portal-to-portal day,
which includes a paid lunch period
’ of a half hour.
The annual vacation payment of
$100 remains the same as in the
| present contract, and the clause
which states the miners will work
when ‘able and willing" is also re
tained.
The operators had tried to drop
; the "able and willing” clause, while
Mr. Lewis originally asked that the
total work day be reduced to seven
hour.
Under the new contract, the op
erators have agreed to accept as
final the decision of Justice T. Alan
Goldsborough on the matter of $100
monthly pensions to miners and the
• payment of distress and disability
1 benefits
In other words the miners would
get the pension worked out by Sen
ator Bridges, Republican, of New
, Hampshire, the third and neutral
| trustee of the welfare fund. They
would also get health and distress
| benefits along the line Mr. Lewis
has been giving them out under the
1946 welfare fund, raised while the
. Government operated the mines.
Fund Exhausts Next Week.
More than 140.000 miners and de
' iSee COAL. Page A-6.'
> Soaring Budget Surplus
Nearing 8} Billion
fty th« Associated Pres*
! The Government’s budget surplus
' for the dying fiscal year soared
1 today to a history-making total of
$8,471,335,805.70.
This is nearly $1,000,000,000 more
than President Truman estimated
| last January' Vie surplus would b«
, I when the fiscal year ends June 30.
. His forecast then was $7,482,000,000.
. The surplus—excess of income
| over spending—is expected to drop
closer to the President's figure.
, Heavy expenses fall due in the final
I days of the fiscal year.
Treasury records covering the
. period through June 22 showed that
the recent tax cut has as yet had
k little effect on Government tax
. collections.
Withholding tax collections, total
ling $610,742,000 for June’s first
three weeks, were only $58,000,000
below withholding collections in the
same period last year. It was nearly
$1,500,000,000 higher than last year
for the fiscal year through June 22.
, Take THE STAR
\ Wherever You Are!
Keep in touch with the news
and your favorite features
while on vacation. Leave your
subscription at the Business
Office Counter, Eleventh street
and Pennsylvania Avenue
N.W., or mail in your vacation I
address.
Rates for Mailing. ^
Daily 4c
Sunday. Dally Sundajbr
,i 1 month $1.50 $ .90 $ .60
1 week.. .40 .30 .2#
Remittance may be mada
by check, cash, money order
, or stamps.
i £