The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-12-04
MINERS OFFERED
n PCT. INCREASE
To Be No Raise in Price OF Coal.
U. S. Decision.
OFFER Anglers BOTH SIDES
Operators Bear disappointment In
Silence, but From the Miners
Came Denuneistion After De-
nunciation.


Washington. Nov. 27.-ActIng under
instructions from the cabinet. United
States Fuel Administrator Garfield
told the coal miners and the operators
that the wage increase for the miners
should be IL per cent and that the
price Of coal to the public should not
he raised
This declaration coming from the
government as basis for settling the
wage controversy. was received with
great dissatisfaction by both the
miners and the operators.
Some Of the miners representatives
declared that the offer Of IA per cent
increase. In the face Of the fact that
Secretary OF Labor Wilson had Of
fered them 316 per cent. was an In
suit. They declared that the miners
would starve idle rather than go back
to the mines at this wage increase.
The operators. who have been ex-
pecting that the government would see
them through on any wage Increase.
declared that their margins would not
permit them to give the miners the IA
per cent out of their own pockets.
They said that II would break many Of
the weaker mines and that II meant
ruin and sacrifice Of years Of earnings
and savings.
Garfield Adamant.
The operators for the most part
bore their disappointment In silence.
hut from the miners came denuncia-
lion after denunciation of the govern
ments solution. without reservation.
and without mlncing words. the miners
questioned Doctor Garfield and.
through him. grilled the government
for more than two hours.
Doctor Garfield stood adamant In the
face OF the questions and the criticism
hurled at him from the miners side of
The hall. He answered all questions
without betraying personal excitement
and firmly but kindly told the miners
that what he had laid before them was
purely series of facts.
Doctor Garfield said his statement
was made on the facts and the figures
in the case as he had Investigated II
tie said that II was AS II one looked up
at the clock and there read the time
''The clock tells you the hour, and
that is what have done. | tell you
hat per cent OF increase which should
be applied to the miners wages, on the
average. to equalize wages with the
rise in the cost Of living is IA per cent"
said Doctor Garfield.
Shot From Other Barrel.
DR.. Garfield was equally insistent on
his Anding that the price of coal should
not be raised AT this time. This was
shot fired from the other barrel Of his
double barreled statement to the con
ference. He made IL clear that the
facts. a. he found them. meant that II
The miners wages were Increased IA
per cent. as he said should be done,
that the burden should be borne en-
rirely by the operators and not by the
public.
H. Garfield also made third state
ment. which almost ranks In impor-
lance with his two main propositions.
This was that government control If
price will be maintained at present.
This means that the government does
not intend to relax its grip en- The coai
situation through holding prices within
Il maximum limit.
1T seems to me that the reasonable
way TO deal with this situation" Gar
field said. "is TO give the industry as
a whole an average increase common
surate with the increase in the cost
Of living and then let that amount OF
increase be apportioned In accordance
with the wage basis that is accept.
able TO the employers and the employ
ees.
Asks Joint Commission.
"The present negotiation stands by
itself. but II Is far from disposing OF
the fundamental controversy between
operators and mine workers. That
controversy is bound 10 be continu-
ing one as matters now stand. II in
wolves living conditions and conditions
in the mines as well as wages and
profits. and the general relations be-
tween operators and mine workers.
Therefore. to aid in applying the prin-
ciples which have governed us and
which should govern In reaching con.
illusions In the future. II Is urged that
a permanent consultative body. with
purely advisory powers. be set mp con
sistlng of the secretary OF the Interior
as chairman and OF an equal number
OF representatives OF the operators
and OF the mine workers. chosen in
such manner as they may each deter
mine from time to time. In order that
the data necessary for the considera.
ton Of this consultative body may al
all times be available, II is urged that
congress make provision for collecting
definite and trustworthy Information
concerning the coal and coke Industry
and for the tabulation Of the same 10
quarterly reports"
Burlington Boosts Car Farea