The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-01-25
COAL MINERS ARE
NOT RESPONSIBLE
FOR COAL SHORTAGE

| Trade commissioner William Is. COL
yer is of peculiar interest to labor
unions generally, and to mine
workers specifically. 1t refuted state
ments that the miners have refused
to work full time because of high
wages. Commissioner Colver's re-
plies to inquiries of Senators investi-
eating the coal situation emphasized
conditions which make it impossible
for miners to work six days a week.
Describing how coal cars have
been misused, not properly distrib-
uted among the mines, and some
times used as storage room for pur-
poses of speculation, Commissioner
Colver said:
81 do not think the cars are now
used by spectators for the same
purpose because the Presidents
prices and DR.. Garfeld's administra-
ton since have made speculation i'm
possible, but the condition as to
transportation not only is no better,
but it is worse than it was, right
now in the midst of winter l say
again that the measure of the pro-
duction of coal is the supply, day
by day, of empty coal cars at the
mouth of the mine. A miner will
not be sent into the mines to work
unless there are coal cars delivered
to receive the product of his labor,
because the coal cannot be stored,
and there is no place for it. That
is the measure; so that now, and
at all times-I say at all times, at
least year ago-the miners have
been standing idle when they are
ready and willing to work, from one
to four or five days a week"
The examination continued as fol-
lows:
"Mr. Colver. Why, Senator, there
has been no time when miners could
work six days a week. Now, it is
true that in some mines the miners
do work six days a week; but, as a
rule, taking it right through, l
think that tn eaverage idle time is
at least two days out of the week.
On the average right straight
through the country-I speak of btu
minous coal-the average idle time
for these miners is from two to three
days a week; So as far as the miners
are concerned, you would not be ten
per cent short in production. You
can get the ten per cent more that
he said we might need in time of
war with the present mining force;
but it is extremely dsorganizing for
miners or any other labor to have
occasional employment, to work
couple of days and then be laid off
for day or two days.
Senator Kenyon. If the miners
are laid off for couple of days
week, are they not producing less
coal?
Mr.. Colver. Oh, yes.
Senator Lodge. That is what
causes the shortage.
Mr.. Colver There is where the
shortage comes in.
Senator Jones of N. M. The cause
of the laying off of the miners, as
l understand, is the lack of cars.
Mr., Colver. Yes.
Senator Kenyon. If they had the
cars, then, the miners could work
the full time?
Mr.. Colver. Yes.
Senator Kenyon. And then we
would not have any shortage of
coal?
Mr.. Colver. Absolutely not, and
there would be no need, Senator, as
you suggested yesterday, of encour-
aging the opening of new mines. The
present openings are sufficient. They
must be, because all these miners
can go to work if they are given a
chance to do So"
During the examination, Commits
sioner Colver read into the record
the following quotation from the
Commissions recent annual report
as follows:
"The delay in the movement of
coal cars, both loaded and empty,
continues to limit the output of the
mines. Movements of coal cars so
slow as to average only twelve or
fifteen miles day are now matters
of common knowledge. No effort
at stimulation, either by way of
exhortation to labor or increased
prices to operators, can avail against
the absolute limit of production set
by the misuse of coal car equipment,
of which, if properly used, there is
an adequate supply"