Foreign Oil Seen Idling Coal Workers
Management and union representatives of {ha coal industry told a Senate Labor Subcommittee yesterday importation of cheap foreign oil is causing serious unemployment in the coal industry.</br></br>They asked Congress to stem the oil being ÛÏdumped" in this country by ÛÏan international oil cartel.Û They said if the coal industry is not protected it will not be able to meet the NationÛªs fuel needs in event of war.</br></br>The Subcommittee began an investigation into the causes of unemployment in such indus-i tries as coal, railroads, textile,! pottery, lead and zinc. Sen. Matthew M. Neely (D-W. Va.) is the groupÛªs chairman.</br></br>Although Neely said the purpose of the hearings was to ÛÏstrengthen" rather than ÛÏdestroy or impair the principal of the reciprocal trade program,Û opening statements made it clear that the ÛÏAdministration program will figure largely in the investigation.</br></br>Walter R. Thurmond, secretary of the Southern Coal ProducersÛª Association, said the flood of foreign oil imports is having a ÛÏdevastating effectÛ j upon the coal industry. He asked for the support of Con-! gress ÛÏagainst the unfair competition of foreign oil.Û