Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-23
Minimum WAGE BILL
IS GIVEN AN IMPETUS
Passes Through Committee
Stage in Commensurate
Conditions Terrible.

LONDON. March 23.-The governments
minimum wage bill. introduced by Pre-
mier Asquith in an endeavor to bring
about a settlement of the coal strike.
passed through the committee stage in
the house of commons at 1:O o'clock
this morning. practically in its original
form. Nearly all the amendments SUBJ
mtted had been withdrawn or defeated.
Whether the bill ever will reach the
statute books is questionable. A con-
ference of mine owners and miners, CALI
ed by Premier Asquith, will be held
Monday
A great difference Of opinion prevails
as to the prospects of Mondays CONFER
ence arriving at an agreement. In South
Wales the mine owners are opposed 10
the acceptance of even the smallest de-
mand of the unions. on the ground that
their agreement with the men still has
long while to run, and that under no
circumstances should 1t be changed.
1t is believed that the labor leaders.
having failed to induce the government to
define in the bill the minimum rates to be
paid underground workers, Will prefer
a settlement Of the controversy without
In the debate in the house of commons
the miners representatives plainly init
mated that if the government Dill was
amended in the committee stage to pro-
a
adult and 80 cents for boys working UNI
derground the miners would not insist
on the inclusion of their entire schedule,
and the way would be cleared for the
speedy passage of the measure ana the
settlement of the strike.
Premier Asquith fatty refused to ac-
cept this amendment or to put any fixed
rates in the bill.
Gloomy Week End.
England is spending one Of the gloom
lest week ends in her history. In every
town. village and hamlet throughout the
country where skilled workmen are
usually engaged in the great Industries
unemployment is on the increase, and
the families of the workers who nave
been rendered idle by the strike OF the
million coal miners who quit work March
| are in many cases facing starYauon.
Only the utmost efforts of charitable
societies and private individuals are able
to relieve some of the terrible distress.
Factories Are Closing.
The cotton mills at Nelson, Bolton and
other centers in Lancashire are closing
down rapidly, while most OF the facto-
ries in Leeds have either stopped enure-
~ or are running on half time. Foun-
dries everywhere have drawn their fires.
and this week end large number OF rae
tories and workshops in the southern
counties of England which heretofore
have not been affected have paid on their
men. The cement works on the Midway
Joined the long list today, and will not
resume until supplies of coal are as
sured.
The navy, too. is beginning to feel the
effects of the strike Winston Spencer
Churchill, first lord Of the admiralty, in
answer to a question in the house OF
commons, announced that the strike un-
ouestiohably would retard the progress
of the work on new ships building Tor
the navy and on the naval bases under
construction.
Thus far the miners alone have re-
ceiyed So. 900 600 in strike pay. and today
it is estimated that $1,000 was paid
out as out-of-work benefits by other
unions. The secretary OF one OF tne
largest unions said today that treasures
would 10 drained.