The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-03-22
Refuses to Accept Striking Min
ers' Rate Amendment to
the Wages Bill
NEW COURSE NOW PROBABLE
Government May Protect the Men
Desiring to Work
Situation is Very Grave and There is
Much suffering-Miners Have
Lost s2e, 100000.

London March 22.-Premier As
quith in the Commons this afternoon
refused to accept the miners amend
| ment 20 the minimum wages BILL pro-
viding a minimum of Sl.25 and nfty
cents as the daily wage for men and
boys. respectively. Edwards, the La
Dor member OF Parliament, and presi-
dent of the Miners Federation, an
nounced that the premier's rejection OF
the amendment closed the door 10 an
Immediate settlement OF the strike.
The gravity of the situation is recog-
nized because it is practically certain
to bring about another deadlock.
In opposing the ini,.~.s' amendment
the premier said il was most undesir-
able to establish the precedent Of fix
ing a rate by act of Parliament IL
Parliament once expressed judgment
that SIPS was a fair minimum wage.
that sum would be bound to be treated
as the maximum.
Andrew Bonar taw, official leader OF
the opposition, said the government
could not take any other course. In
case the miners never get what they
desire they may refuse to return to
work and the government will be then
faced with the necessity of taking
those ether and different measures"
fcreshadowed by the Premier yester.
day, and which are believed adequate
protection for those desiring to return
Ia work.
Despite the decision Of the unions
there is already. particularly in Scot
land a steady trickling of miners back
TO the pits. Meantime the work Of re-
lieving distress is getting beyond the
means OF local charities and a demand
row is being made on the government
to take IL up. II is estimated the min
ers thus far have lost i'm wages twen-
ty-six million dollars. besides the de-
pletion OF the union funds.
The government this evening renew
ed peace negotiations with the coal
owners and miners. Premier Asquith
is trying TO induce the owners to agree
TO pay the $l.25 and so cents minimum
wages, and is hoping the men will be
NNnAtnA NiNil Ailt lAOiAiioO vi NAt'
ployers without the inclusion of any
figures in the minimum bill.
II is evident the government is SAN
guine Of securing a compromise and
passing the wages bill through all
stages of the House of Commons to-
night, as the lords are summoned To
meet at 1890 to pass on the first read
ing so II can be completed tomorrow
and obtain the royal assent.
Sub Committee in Session.
Cleveland. O.. March 22-Whether
two hundred thousand miners in the
central bituminous fields strike, or
merely will suspend operations, April
/, depends largely on the delibera-
tions today of the subcommittee COM
posed of miners and operators. The
sub committee may continue its ses-
sion for several days in an effort TO
reach AN agreement
with the anthracite wage dispute
unsettled, and with only months
supply of bituminous on hand, both
sides say prolonged shut down would
involve serious consequences 10 indus
try. The fact that only nine days re-
main before the expiration Of the pres
ent agreement makes il impossible to
avoid at least temporary shut down.
Iowa Miners May Strike.
Des Moines Ia. March 22.-The Joint
conference of Iowa coal mine operators
and miners assembled today TO dis
cuss the question of a new wage
agreement to come into effect when the
present agreement expires on April l.
The Iowa miners are independent of
the negotiations that are being con-
Quoted for a new interstate agreement
between the bltuminous miners and op-
orators Of western PENNSYLVANIA, Ohio.
Illinois and Indiana. At the same
time their demands are virtually the
same and IL is believed that II new
interstate agreement is arrived at it
will be made the basis for a similar
agreement 60 apply 90 the Iowa field.
Failure to reach satisfactory agree
mont by the end OF this month prob
ably will be followed by general
strike of the Iowa miners.