The Butler weekly times and the Bates County record. (Butler, Mo.) 1918-1950, 1919-12-04
COAL MINERS STILL OUT
Cabinet Could Not Agree and
!. Adjourned. .t

l 3 . "a i. t.. In 4
Il Washington, Nov. alike TIL,
miners and operators, whose trouble
it was trying to adjust, Prcsiden
Wilson's cabinet tonight seemes
hopelessly deadlocked on the ques
ton of wage increase in the blum
inous coal industry. S
After 6-hour session, the cabinet
which took up the wage scale agree
inent where operators and miners
left off last week. adjourned until to-
morrow, when another attempt, witt
the aid of Fuel Administrator Gar.
field, will be made to agree upon q
pay scale that will satisfy the mine
workers and owners and the people
in all sections of the country who
are clamoring for normal production
of coal.
The proper basis of calculating the
proposed wage advance, and the
ratio of dividing the consequent in
crease in cost of production of coal
between the operators and the pub.
lie, are understood to have been the
points of difference among the cab
met members. DR.. Garfield, who
took the leading part in the discus
sions, took issue with Secretary Of
Labor Wilson as 10th, method of
applying the figures accepted by
both.
No statement was forthcoming af-
ter the meeting except an announce
ment by DR.. Garfield that the cabi-
net would meetagai ntomorrow and
that he would not see either the min
ers or the operators meanwhile. He
declined to say whether progress had
been made, but one member of the
cabinet declared prospects of All
agreement were mot hopeless
Secretary Wilson's estimate that
the cost of living has increased 70
per cent over 1914 was accepted, it
was understood, but difference OF
opinion arose as to the application
OF this and other figures in comput-
ing an increase in wages.
secretary Glass said tonight he
might have some very interesting
figures. tomorrow, emphasizing that
they had been compiled iQr the pub
lie and not for the cabinet He de-
clined to say whether they were the
income tax returns received by the
treasury Department on excess
profits from the coal industry.
Significance was attached to this
announcement in view of the fact
that the OF profits
the coal companies during the last
two years, and the percentage of in
crease i'll any possible wage advance
which the operators might be asked
TO bear, hav e been the most bitterly
points i'll the controversy.
The statements OF William G. Nc
Adoo, former secretary of the treas
ury, charging that some coal con-
Germs maze enormous profits during
his incumbency, CAME III Off discus
sion atth ecaDlnet j twa S learned,
but no one would say what form the
discussion took.
Walker d. Hines, director general
Of railroads, attended the session,
but declined to say what took place.
Before the meeting this morning
Attorney General Palmer said if the
figures on operators profits, given
yesterday by Mr.. McAdoo, were cor
rect, it was not likely DR.. Garfield
would permit an increased price for
coal
In statement bearing on this is
sue the operators said conditions in
1917 were abnormal" but that as Mr..
McAdoo was Ignorant" of condi-
lions i'll 1913 and 1919, his messages
carries no weight and requires no
answer" The operators said they
an investigation of cur
rent tax returns, and that they had
been urging a board of arbitration or
4 tribunal of investigation, but the
miners refused to agree to it.
The sub-scale committee held
oerfunctory meeting today, at which
DR.. Garfield's statement of principles
was discussed. Pending word from
The cabinet, adjournment was taken
until tomorrow
Neither operators nor miners were
hopeful tonight of settlement be-
lore next week. Many operators
have arranged to spend Thanksgiv-
ing Day at their homes.