Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-09-09
SCORES BELATED
FEDERAL ACTION
ON HIGH PRICES
Acting Head of Mine Workers
Declares Any Sweeping Re-
duction Improbable
WANTS PACT CANCELLED
At Opening of Convention De-
clares Washington Agree
ment Is Unsatisfactory
By associated Press.


Cleveland, Sept. 8. - Acting
President John L. Lewis, in his re-
port to the convention of the United
Mine Workers of America, to-day
discussed the greatly increased cost
of living and the improbability OF
any sweeping reduction through pc
lated" Federal action, as a preface
to his recommendations for can
collation. of the Washington wage
agreem ent in the bituminous field
not later than November l and the
negotiation of a new wage scale to
be enforced, in case of failure to
reach a satisfactory settlement by
general miners strike throughout
the entire jurisdiction of the United
Mine Workers of America. The
basis of the proposed agreement
should be that outlined by nauonal
policy meeting held at Indianapolis
in March calling for the six hour day
and five-day week and "supstantlal
wage increases.
In other parts of his report he
discussed difficulties with the United
States Railroad Administration, re-
sulting from the efforts OF Directors
General McAdoo and Hines to secure
coal for railroad use below the rate
fixed by the United States Fuel Ad-
ministration; expressed fear that the
success of such efforts would tend to
force down miners wages; strongly
condemned policies and principles or
the l. w. w. and similar orSaniza-
tiuns and declared against any conf
promise with elements seeking to
spread such doctrines in the United
Mine Workers organization.
Reports OH Action
He reported on damage actions
brought against the United Mine
Workers organization which are in
spring efforts to secure from Con-
gress an amendment to the Clayton
antitrust act to prevent the possi-
bility of such suits against labor
unions. He further recommended
an effort to secure tariff legislation
to cope with the problem of Mexi-
can fuel oil, which is entering into
serious competition with Am erican
coal and on account of its cheapness
and the ease, with which it may De
delivered at seaboard, Great Lakes
and Mississippi river points, contains
threat to the prosperity of those
engaged in the coal industry. An
| import duty of at least a dollar a
| barrel was desired to meet this COM
| petition.
The astonishing increase" in the
cost of the necessities of life, felt
by the miners with particular sew
Gritty owing to their life in isolated
communities far from centers of dis
| tribution.
The principal matters to be de-
cided are the demands to be made
on the coal operators affecting
wages. hours and conditions of
! labor. For the past two years
miners have been working under a
contract made in Washington, in
! November, 1917, which was to last
until March 81. 1920, or until the
expiration of the war" The miners
will consider the war ended when
the Senate ratifles the Peace Treaty.
Want 6-Hour Day
According to William Green, in
! ternational secretary of
the organization, the wage and hour
demands. although subject to
change, are substantially: A six
hour day instead of the eight-hour
day; q five-day week instead of six
and an increase in wages of from
| 25 to 40 per cent. We are forced
to demand shorter hours and a
shorter week because of the unem-
| ployment at the Mines" Mr.. Green
said.
Miners now are paid a certain
! sum Tor every ton OF coal mlned.
| Operators have claimed miners can
make SIS a day. Union officials as
! sert, however, the average-count-
ing time of layoff-- will not run
more than Sc a day. Other help
are paid by the day generally, the
wage running from $4.75 to So a
day.
Scale Conference
A joint scale conference between
representatives of miners and
| operators of the central competitive
! field, including Ohio, Illinois, In
| diana, and Western Pennsylvania,
will be held Immediately following
! the miners convention, to consider
! the new wage scale. Inasmuch as
| the district is the most important in
| the country, it's rate usually governs
| the country, with notifications due
! to local conditions.
Another matter of importance to
| be brought before the convention
will be the naturalization of the
mines. However, this is merely a
question of general policy, accord
ing to Secretary Green, and is not
a demand.
- n VHYsa