New-York tribune., 1919-07-15
British Miners
Win Point i'm
House Debate
Government to Postpone
Increase of Six Shillines
for Three Months; Two
Courses Are Suggested
Inquiry onNationalization
Workmen Oppose New
Machinery to Increase
Output for Private Owners

put IOT L r1Vate owners
LONDON, july 1.-THE coal debate
in the House of Commons to-day had
somewhat unexpected result in the
partial yielding of the government to
the miners an dthe postponement of
| enforcement of the six shilling in
crease in the price of coal while an at
tempt Is made to seek an agreement
between the contending interests.
Afr IAN explanation by Sir Eric
Geddes, Minister without portfolio, the
most important contribution to the de-
bate emanated from William Brace.
member for the Abertllery division of
Monmouthshire and president Of the
South Wales Miners Federation, who.
characterizing Sir Eric's speech as de-
pressing and in itself the strongest
condemnation of the governments
policy, reproached the government for
failure to repose confidence in the
miners.
Declaring that the miners were pre-
pared to give the government every as
sistance, Mr. Brace made two proposi-
tions:
First, That the government appoint
a committee of inquiry, and this is the
miners opportunity for consultation
and cooperation on the problem of in
creaslng the output, and, second, that
the government take steps to give leg
islative effect to the Sankey recon-
mendatons and proceed to the nation
alization of the mines. He said that
the miners would not welcome labor
saving machinery merely to produce
profits for private individuals, but
were ready to adopt all means to in
crease the output if the industry were
nationalized.
Sir Evan Jones. coal controller, well
coined Mr.. Braces offer as one ray of
hope in the clouded prospect.
Lord Robert Cecil also expressed
obligation to Mr. Brace, but preferred
royal commission of experts He,
however. was strongly opposed to ma
tlonalization.
After further debate, Mr.. Bonar Law,
the government spokesman, announced
that if the miners leaders would give
an undertaking that there should be
no stoppage or strikes in the mean
time, the government would accept
Mr.. Braces suggestion of a committee
of inquiry and postpone the six shll-
lng's increase. for three. months.
To Submit Suggestion
Mr.. Brace replied that he was not
in position to give such an under
taking, but would submit the sug-
gestion to the miners conference on
Thursday and recommend it's accept
ance.
Mr.. Bonar Law thereupon agreed to
defer enforcement of the increase from
July Is to July 81, in order to give
time for consideration of the matter.
In his speech Minister Geddes, de
| Tending the governments action in
raising the price of coal, said it was
based on nothing but the realization
by the government of the very serious
position which faced the country.
We are confronted by serious re
duction in the amount of coal available
as a result of internal causes" he said
Among the most important internal
causes is that the output has been
checked in many mines because cars
are not available. This, in turn, is due
to the slower unloading of cars on ac-
count Of shorter railway hours
"We cannot go on in anything like
our pre-war state if the work of the
country is not done"
Increasing Cost of Coal
The minister presented TO the House
mass of figures for the purpose OF
showing how industrial changes in
hours and wages were increasing the
cost of coal and gravely affecting the
whole field of national industry. He
said there was no doubt that unused
capacity for output still existed OIL the
part of the miners themselves.
The figures included the cost of la
Dor and materials, royalties and 'ht
like or which the prices Of coal at the
pit head, as given by Mr.. Bridgman
were based, and the prices of rails, shil
plates and other iron and steel prod
ucts, respectively. tending TO SHOW
how much cheaper they were in tht
United States than in Great Britain.
These figures Minister Gedde
added, "must make everyone realiz,
how grave is the crisis and that tn
key to the whole situation is the out
put of coal"
American Competition Keen
The Minister said it was dangerou
to suppose that Great Britain woul,
have during the coming year much sur
plus coal for profitable export, becaus
competition was keen. American Goa
at Atlantic ports. he added was almos
exactly 2 shillngs a ton, a. agains
Great Britain's export price of 35 shil
lings, and, possibly shortly 80 shil
lings. Moreover, he said, there wa
American competition in oil.
THE Americans also are Offering lon
term contracts on COAL" Mniste
Geddes declared, 'and if we are forced
in order to maintain our hold on tn
market, to follow their examle on
pprofts must be further reduced
The minister earnestly urged tn
, leaders o. the miners to do their III
most to persuade the miners that thi
was no time for doing less than tn
maximum. If the miners would wor
to the limit of their capacity, he sal,
he had little fear that the governmer
: soon would be able to run the risk
} bringing down the price of coal.
Pacific Fleet to Sail
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