The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-11-26
STRIKE SITUATION
AWAITS CABINET
Nav Later Go to the Presi-
dent ~
FINAL POLICY
MAY BE ADOPTED

Which have Governed Him and Ills
Associates. Dir. Garfield Says Pub
lie will not Pay More than Normal
Profits.
Washington, Nov. 24.--Scttlement Of
the controversy over 4 new wage
agreement in the bitumimous coal in
dustry tonight awaited action by
President Wilson's cabinet.
At the meeting of the cabinet to-
morrow definite decision of policy
regarding all phases Of the strike sit
uation is expected, and if the cabi-
net is In disagreement the whole |
question may be put before the Prcsi- |
dent.
Fuel Administrator Garfield, speak
ing to the joint wage scale commit
tees OF operators and miners, an
nounccd five principles which have
governed" him and his associates
hut different interpretations were
placed upon its various provisions by
the workers and the mine owners III
informal discussions after the nreet-
ing.
DR.. Garfield called the miners ana
operators together after lengthy
conference with Attorney Gcneai
Palmer, Director General Hines, ana
Assistant Attorney General Ames.
Owing TO the disagreement which
had arisen as to the amount or thc
increase i'll the cost Of living, ana
consequently tho per cent or wage al
vance needed to meet higher living
costs, great suggcstancc was attach
cd TO DR.. Garfclds declaration That
"the average total increase IN pay
over the 1913 base, which was the Dase
considered in 1917, should not exceed
Tho present increase in the cost OF llV-
ing over the same base
.Jt is also TO be considered that the
cost Of living will fall rather thah
rise during the next few years he
added.
Opcrators construed this statement
as in conflict with the contention OF
Secretary Wilson that miners should
be given 81 per cent wage advance
to coualize the margin between pres
ent wages and 70 per cent in rise II
living cost since 1914.
Pointing out that wartime coal
nrices were fixed for the purpose o
stimulating production, ,Dr. Gariici'
declared that the public would no
now pay the increase over norma
profits allowed during the war. III
further statement that any wage III
crease should be "bornc by inc opel
otors or the public or both" was gen
orally taken to mean that part OF III
advance must como out Of the cNccs
nroHts of the mining companies.
The five principles announced D
Dr.. Garfield were:
"First-Thc public must not D
asked to pay more than it Is no
paying for coal unless it is ncccssaf
to do so in order to provide reason
oble wages to the mine workers an
a reasonable profit to the operator
"Sccond-Thc arrangement cntert
into between the operators, the mn
workers and the fuel admlnlstra'lo
with thc sanction Of the President
Tho United States in October, III
wac innndcd to cQualizc the was
of NJ, classes Of mine workers ana
be sufficient to cover thc perio"
tho war. but not beyond March
1000. hence, the only increase IN CO
of living which can now be cohs'der
% fro increase above that proVld
for NV thc average increase III III
that is to say, the average totai
o,ooeo in nav over the III" Do
,vbich vas the base considered
1917. should not exceed the pres'
average increase in the cost OF lV'
on nsver thc same base. 1t Is also 10
considered that the cost OF living
ao,, rather than rise during the III
few years. ..
"Tbird-Thc maximum prices IL
nv the government on coal were
o,,ated TO Increase production OF c
= .or war purposes. Coal was pa
and the increase imperative.
nnb,ic ought not to be asked 10 y
Id will not now pay the 'hc,o
Ver rormal profits then allowed