El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-03-20
WAGE BILL GOES
TO FIRST BEADING
Government Measure DeS-
tined to End Coal Strike
Believed Imperative.

London. England, March 2O.-The
coal mines minimum wage bill.
designed TO put an end to the coal
strike, passed its first reading in the
house Of commons last night The bill
is backed by premier Asquith, foreign
secretary Gray chancellor LlOyd-George
and Sydney Buxton president OF the
board Of trade It consists Of SIX clauses
and a schedule defining q districts, the
country being divided for the purpose
Of the bill
As outlined by the prime minister, the
bill provides e reasonable minimum
wage for the miners and safeguards
for the owners, these TO be arranged By
district boards. The minimum viii be
paid from the date Of resumption Of
work The enactment Is for three years
An important clause provides that If
within a fortnight any district lacks a
recognized district board, the board OF
trade may appoint any person to act in
place Of the local body. There is nothing
In the bill to prevent q recurrence Of
the strike should the miners be dissat-
isfied
The district boards viii frame regu-
latiOns and conditions for assuring thu
regularity and efficiency Of the work
IN the mines and Workmen railing 70
comply with these conditions and regu-
lations are not TO be entitled TO the
fixed minimum wage
No Penal Provisions.
The bill does not contain any penal
provisions for either side and does not
compel an owner to open his mine or
the Workmen TO descend into the pit
W0rkmen who are paid less than the
minimum wage VIII be able 70 recover
in the courts
Premier Asquith said that he intro
duced the bill with great reluctance
but that II is absolutely imperative in
the interests OF the country
The government resOrted to legisla-
ton only when all hope OF settlement
by agreement between the employees
and the miners had disappeared
Andrew BOuar Law, leader Of the
opposition Ia the house, said he would
await the publication Of the text Of the
bin which premier AsQuith had prom
fsed would be available. before COM
hitting the opposition for or against It
His mistrust Of the policy Of the bill,
however, was strong
The governments bill invited every
other trade to ask for similar treatment
The bill does not give promise Of easy
passage. through parliament The op-
position is dissatisfied with the absence
Of uenal clauses or measures for com
pulsory arbitration and VIII move
amendments with a view to remedying
Chancellor LIoyd-George said the
government was confronted by the
necessity OF speedily terminating the
strike, but that recourse 70 oIasllc
methods would create q peruous STU
alton The bill was far from revolution
Even though the remedy provided
was only temporary 1t gave the nation
time to devise q more permanent soIu-
I Pamsav Mcdonald, on behalf Of the
Il Dor. party, regretted the necessity for
the bill. but said the labor members
would give it all their support If II was
amended in regard to sateg uaros-
THE inclusion OF WOrkmen sCheu-
ule viii be one Of the amendments ne
said. There must be security that the
district boards should have no power
to reduce the existing rates OF pay
s4Climax to Great Conspiracy"
Lord Robert Cecil, conservative cnaI-
acterized the government olLl - tbe
climax Of a great conspiracy on t-e
part Of a small band OF reYOIuIlouaIlss
TO obtain dictatorship power over the
industries Of the country
He charged members Of the synol-
Gates vita purpOsely englneeIlls
strikes, and pointed out chat the leauef
Of the labor party in the house OF CON- con-
mons had declared this was only lhe pc
ginning of a campaign for IlNeo MINI
mum wage in all trades
Miners Dissatisfied.
At a meeting Of the miners IeueIa-
ton much discomfort was expressed at
the indefiniteness Of the minimum wage
provision The government however -
anxious to have the miners return 70
work Monday, therefore every e4loIt I
VIII be made to get the oill Jh lel-s11
The house OF lords viii hold speclal
sitting Saturday 10 carry the measure
through the necessary stages
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