New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-27
All Negotiations Being Broken
Off, Minimum Wage Bill Is
Pushed Through as
Last Resort.
CABINET WINS: 213 TO 48
Miners Representatives in Par
lament Vote Against Govern
ment's Measure to Break
Deadlock-Thousands
Near Starvation.

London. March 27-The long and
wearisome negotiations in which Pre-
mier Asouith has been engaged with
The coal owners on the one hand and the
miners on the other came to an end yes
terday. and the nation now stands face
10 faCe with that crisis which Sir Ed
ward Grey at the beginning of the strike
declared would be the greatest Catas-
trophe I'm EnCland's national history.
The governments minimum wage bill
passed its third reading in the House OF
Commons early this morning by vote
Of 213 to iS. There was a scene Of great
excitement. and Premier Asquith was
loudly chnered by all the members. The
House of Lords reassembled at ESQ
o'clock this morning to receive the bill
which. on the motion of Lord Herschell,
rassed its first reading. The proceed
ings were purely formal and the house
immediatel- adjourned The bill will
doubtless be passed into law to-day.
The delay in pressing the bill was
caused by Cabinet dissensions. Lloyd
George and sydney Buxton favored the
two shillings and five shillings Conces-
sion. but both the Lord Chancellor and
Lord Morley threatened to resign If any
figures were put into the bill.
While Mr. Asquith was supported by
g large majority Of his colleagues, Vt
was necessary To make final effort for
peace between the owners and the Min
ers' Federation. When the negotiations
failed the bill without any rigid mini
mum rate was the last resource, and It
was taken up not only without enthusi
asm but with the apprehension that L
considerable group of Radicals in sym
pathy with Mr.. Lloyd George might join
the Labor members.
The Prime Minister'S anxiety and
WEAKNESS were evident when he eX-
planned the situation in the House Of
Commons. The division I'm the Cabinet
itself had become an intOlerablc source
~ weakness. and the feeble bill which
neither the masters nor the men want
ed was thrust upon Parliament when
there was no expectation in any quar-
ter that II would facilitate n settlement.
What is really operating to bring
about a restoration Of confidence Is the
exhaustion Of the miners organization
The strike funds have run dry savings
hank deposits have been drawn upon
shopkeepers are cutting off their credits
and pawnbrJkers form the only class
in the mining districts which is doing
a profitable business.
Non-unionsts are likely to lead the
way back to the mines as soon as there
is a prospect of adequate protection
and tho strike leaders will be left to
justify the vast expenditure Of union
funds and the shrinkage in the savings
Of the working people.
Unless the Federation of Transport
Workers can he drawn into the conflict
prematurely it is probable that the
minimum wage bill. after being accept
ed sullenly and reluctantly by the
trade unionists, will be the basis of a
resumption of business in all the mines
In another ten days Londons reserves
OF coal will he exhausted.
44JliNplls MAI III -Os-I llt 1 lilIit -'liliio-
ter, in the House of Commons to-day
announced that the government had
failed TO terminate the coal strike. I'VE
have done our best with thoroughness
and impartiality," said Mr.. Asquith, and
It is with profound disappointment that
have to confess to the house that all
our labors have been unavailing."
In final appeal TO the disputants, the
Prime Minister said: IF at this 59th
minute of the eleventh hour, the parties
cannot come TO reasonable arrange
ment on a matter of relatively small
proportions they will have very serious
account to render to the country. The
government has done all It can"
Scotch Miners Boost Demands.
The governments persistent efforts TO
secure an outside settlement collapsed
in most dramatic fashion. Premier AS
Quith had e greatest difficulty in get
ting the owners and the men to meet
and 1t was only finally on the earnest
persuasion of Sir Edward Grey, the For
eign Secretary, that the owners con-
sented to confer with the mems repre-
sentatives.
The meeting lasted but a few minutes
put forward demand for a minimum of
shillings pence for men and 3 shil-
lings for boys, whereupon the owners,
protesting thas they were always being
faced by fresh demands, angrily broke
up the conference and quilted the room,
leaving Premier Asqulth, Foreign Secre-
tary Grey and Chancellor Lloyd George
thunderstruck and crestfallen at the un-
expected turn of events.
That Premier Asquith's handling of
the crisis is far from meeting the unani-
nous approval Of his own party. was
evidenced by the division lists on the
amendment moved by william Brace,
Labor NJ. p. for South GlamCrgan. that
The minimum daily rates of five shillngs
Tor men and two shillings for bows be
Incorporated In the bill, which was de-
feated 326 TO SO. The minority which
voted against the government comprised
forty-flve Liberals, as well as the mem
bers OF the Labor party The National
lists abstained from voting. and the
Unionists voted with the government
l-rge section Of the Liberals and 1t
Is even rumored some members of the
goyernment--feel that Mr.. Asquith has
made mistake in refusing permit
the insertion Of any minimum figures in
the bill, as IT was almost certain that