Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-03-20
Premier AsQuith and Other Of
ficiaIs Propose to Settle Coal
Strike by Legislative Enact
ment If Possible.
NOTHING TO PREVENT A
STRIKE OF MINERS
Remedies Only Temporary but
May Lead to More Perma-
nent Solution of Difficulties
Before Expiration of Term.

Before Expiration of Term.
| fBy Morning Journal Special Leased Wire.
I London, March 19.--The coal min
/ ers minimum wage bill, designed to
put an end To the coal strike, passed It's
| first reading in the house of commons
tonight The bill Is backed by Pre-
mier Asquith Foreign Secretary Grey
Chancellor Lloyd-George and sydney
| Buxton, president of the board oI
trade. 1t consists of six clauses and
a schedule defining twenty-one dis
tricts, the country being divided for
| the purpose of the bill.
| As outlined by the prime minister
the bill provides reasonable mini
mum wage" for the miners and safe
guards for the owners these to be ar
ranged by district boards, The mini
mum will be paid from the date OF
resumption of work. The enactment
| is for three years.
| An important clau provides that II
within 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 re-
| currence of the strike should the
miners be dissatisfied.
| The district boards viii frame regu-
| lations and conditions for assuring
the regularity and efficiency OF the
work in the mines and workmen fail
| ing TO comply with those conditions
4 ,i.,tt tl..I
to the fixed minimum wage.
| The bill does not contain any penal
provisions for either side and does MOI
| compel an owner to open his mine oi
| the worker to descend into the pit.
Workmer who are paid less than the
minimum wage will be BILE to recover
| In the courts.
Premier Asquith said that he in
| troduced the bin with great relucs
tance but that il is absolutely impera-
| tive in the interests of the country.
The government resorted to legisla-
| ton only when all hope of settle
ment by agreement between the em-
ployers and the miners had disap-
peared.
Andrew Bonar Law, leader of the
opposition in the house said he would
await the publication of the text
of the bill which Premier Asquith had
promised would be available tonight,
before committing 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 treat
ment. The bin does not give promise
of easy passage. The opposition Is
dissatisfied with the absence of penal
clauses or measures for compulsory
arbitration and will move amendments
with a view to remedying this.
Chancellor Lloyd George said the
government was confronted by the
necessity of speedily terminating the
strike. but that recourse to drastic
methods would create precarious
situation. The bill was far from revo-
lutionary.
Even though the remedy provided
was only temporary Il gave the nation
time to devise more permanent solu-
ton of the problem.
J. Ramsay Mcdonald. on behalf of
the labor party. regretted the neces-
sity for the bin but said the labor
members would give 1t all their sup
port If IL was amended III regard to
safeguards.
THE inclusion OF workmen's
schedule will be one OF the amend
ments." he said. There must be Sc
curlty that the district boards should
have no power to reduce the existing
rates of pay"
Lord Robert Cecil, conservative.
characterized. the governments bill as
the climax of "a great conspiracy on
the part of the small band OF revolu-
tionaries to obtain dictatorial power
over the industries of the country"
He charged members OF the syndi-
Gates with purposely engineering
strikes and pointed out that the leader
of the labor party in the house of
commons had declared this was only
the beginning of campaign for
fixed minimum wage in all trades.
At meeting Of the miners feder-
alton tonight much discomfort was ex-
pressed at the indefiniteness Of the
minimum wage provision. The gov
ernment, however, is anxious TO have
the miners return to work Monday.
therefore every effort Will be made 10
get the bill through. The house OF
lords will hold special sitting Friday
10 carry the measure through the
necessary stages.
Charles Fenwick. liberal member of
northumberland. who IL working
collier. thinks II will he necessary TO
take q ballot Of the men on the bill
before work is resumed. n 50 Il will
be Impossible to reopen the mines
Monday.
II is announced that the North |
British locomotive works will be shut |
down tomorrow throwing 1000 men
out Of work.