The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-24
GARFIELD REFUSES
COAL WAGE RAISE
Stands Upon Agreement Of
Last October to Continue
for Duration Of War.
WARNS LABOR AGITATORS
Any Move to Interrupt Work
at Mines Will Be Net With
Stern Measures.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3s.--ovsrtures for
an Increase in wages. for coal miners
were rejected without qualification BY
Dr. Garfield at . conference to-day with
President Frank Hayes and other ON
cials Of Tho United Nine Workers Of
America -.,-.. ..,.
The action Of tho Fuel Administrator
was based on wage agreement between
the operators and miners last October
and approved by himself. This specified
that It was to continue In effect "for the
duration Of the war. but not longer than
April /, 1890" An increase Of Is cents
ton In the mine price Of coal was made
at that time TO cover tho wage advance.
The visit Of the delegation to DR.. Gar
field was made after q twenty-four hour
conference at the headquarters Of tho
American Federation OF Labor. A def
mite sum was not mentioned by the
visitors. nor did thsy later indicate the
amount which they had proposed to ask
for. .
bonuses Are Forbidden.
The payment Of bonuses By the opera
tors to the miners this summer was cited
by the delegation AZ the reason for ask
was made that IL some mine workers
benefited In this way general increase
In pay through which all would share
alike in the bonus system should be
granted by the Fuel Administration.
DR.. Garfield pointed to the fact that
an order had been issued August for
bidding the payment Of bonuses and
saying that the sum Of the bonus would
be deducted from the mine price the
producer Is permitted to charge II It 10
continued in the future.
Calling attention to tho fact that q
strike In the coal fields for higher wages
had been precipitated In Illinois. Indiana
and Ohio with the snow hurries last fall,
DR.. Garfield asserted that any step to
bring about labor disturbance in the coal
fields or interrupt constant production of
coal will be met by stern measures,
VIII Not Permit Violations.
He asserted that labor stability In
necessary at this time to the production
Of coal in adequate quantity for the war
industries and at the same time to pre-
vent shortage and Pressing In the homes
this winter. He said he will insist that
the production Of coal II not disturbed IN
any way while the war continues and
will not countenance any move which
tends to violate the letter or spirit Of
tho wage pact approved by him last Oc-
tober.
G4e went into discussion Of the nego-
tiations which were conducted during the
fall pointing out that other wage in
creases had been given earlier in the
year.
Bonuses are an evil and must be
stopped" said DR.. GARFIELD later IT am
already acting upon that matter. Con-
corning wages. the Government 10 at
present investigating the cost OF living
and wage conditions throughout the
country. This will include, OF course,
conditions in the mining fields"
A uniform national wage scale for all
Of the trades and crafts in the shipbuild-
ing yards Is favored by the Shipping
Labor Adjustment Board. which has
been holding hearings for two weeks to
enable representatives OF the different
unions opportunity for readjustment of
wage rates.