South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-07
NOTE
BRINGS HARMONY
TO BOTH SIDES
NO COAL PRICE
RAISE-GARFIELD
Government Will Not Permit
Public to Bear Wage
Increase.

By Associated Press
WASHINGTON. Dec 6-The coal
strike cannot be compromised with
the consent Of the federal govern
mon in any fashion that win mean
an advance in the price Of coal Co.
the public. Fuel Administrator Carr
field declared Saturday night
Declaring himself "-ick and tired
Of proposals 90 make THE people
bear additional burdens" DR. Car
field said the fuel administration
alone had authority TO increase coal
prices necessary 90 pay wage add
vances i'm excess IF the u per cent.
proposed 10y the government 50
long ass he was fuel administrator,
ne said. no advance in the price to
The consumer for this purpose
would be- allowed.
Cabinets Position
The cabinet stands back OF me on
the principle involved Or. Gar
field said. though 7 am responsible
for the presentation of the facts
which moved their decision.
The fuel administration state
ment was made after a DAY spent
in hearing compromise proposals
from delegations of business men
and others from various parts of the
country Using the most emphatic
language. DIR. Garfield left no doubt
that he regarded compromise pro-
posaIs as monkey wrench
thrown into the machinery which ne
believes will operate 10 adjust the
situation with justice both to the
public and the mine workers
Governments Position.
The position of the government is
that no wake advance in excess Of
IA per cent is possible under tho
price of S2.35 per ton mine run.
fixed ON coal 10y the fuel admins
traitor At the same time II was
pointed out that the goverumcn.
had no authority 10 fix wages and
that no objection could be iuterposei
if operators favorabIy situated
agreed TO pay more than the i per
cent advance from their own profit
without charging the increase to the
pubic. 1t is not the opinion in tn
fuel administration. however, that
enough mines 10 supply the country
with coal can be operated on this
basis.
Discussing restrictions imposed ir
the use of coal. DR.. Garfield said
Saturday night that local difference.
in the severity Of the application OF
curtailmCnt orders soon would dis
appear under measures now being
taken by the railroad administra-
ton, which is acting as the fuel ad-
: ministrator's agent in distributing
coal. He said further that the pro
duction OF coal had increased every
day this week and indicated his be
lief that a majority Of miners
would sooner or later accept the
settlement basis which the union
leaders have rejected.
Take New step.
Another step was taken SATURDAY.
by the fuel administration 10 re-
strict coal consumption by resum
ing the fixed prices on coke estab
lished during the war period Dis
I tribution Of coke also win be regu
lated. Gas coke. however. will no
be affected
While DIR. Garfield was conferrint
with delegations Saturday and re
ceiving numerous kilograms suggest
ing a compromise in the strike stu
alton, Atty Gen. Palmer conferre,
with PRIEST Wilson on the genera
/ coal situation and took steps TO pros
ecute oil producers in the west wh'
are charged in a complaint made b,
Sen. Capper, OF Kansas. with in
creasing the price OF oil from 81 q
$3.50 a barrel since the inception o
i the coal strike.
Announce Embargo.
Al the same time railroad admin
/ istration announced ara embargo oil
F oil effective Monday. which Is de
l signed 10 make available a fun sup
ply for industries in the west an
/ thus make IL necessary 10 haul les
/ coal 10 that section from the eas
/ Factories in the east using oil ma
/ obtain their supply as heretofor
/ through a permit system and ship
/ ments In transit or on order viii no
/ be affected.
Reports on coal production serve
/ 20 increase the optimism % official
handling the fuel situation. Add
tional mines were said 20 DE In or
Grafton now and production wa
I steadily increasing. though il con
tinues less than half Of normal.
Coal Production.
Figures made public Saturday Be-
the geological survey showed tina
1 despite the THANKSGIVING day lay
/ off miners remaining az work sine