South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-11-23
Mine Owners Are Prepared to
Leave Entire Situation to
the Government.
GARFIELD PLANS MEETINGS
PreS't Lewis Says Owners Are
CriminaIB Delaying
Negotiations.
BY Associated Press

BY Associated Press.
WASHINGTON Nov 22.-Refus-
ms TO accept proposals made d.
secy Of Labor Wilson as basis
for further negotiations, soft coal
operators of the central competitive
field rested their case today with
Fuel Administrator Garfield. whose
official approval is necessary 20 vail
date any new wage agreement
The public would not stand for
a wage advance above their oTer OF
Is cents per ton to coal disgers
and 20 percent 20 day laborers'
the operators asserted. They refused
10 make further overtures or even 10
reinstate their proposition which
was Withdrawn Following the dead
lock Friday unless the government,
through the Iuel administration, as
sumed responsibility for the added
burden TO the nations fuel bill. The
operators are prepared 70 leave the
entire situation in the hands OF the
government, unless DIR. Garfield can
lind a way out OF the difficulty their
spokesman announced No Joint
meetings of the sub-scale committee
was held today.
COnsults Palmer.
DR.. Garfield notified the riine own
ers that he would not meet their
committee, of which Thomas T. Brew
ster Is chairman. until after he had
consulted Monday with Atty. Gen.
Palmer. Director Gen. Hines and
Judge G. 3. Ames, assistant attor-
ney general 1t was considered like
IS that the negotiations might have
TO go over until after the cabinet
meeting Tuesday when, IL was ex-
pected, a policy TO get the mines
back into operation before the
threatening coal famine brings dis
aster viii be worked out
Operators representatives autho-
rized the statement that in their
opinion figures on which Secy. VIII
son based his proposals showing liz
ing costs in the coal regions were
partisan. The secretary told the sub
scale committee Friday that he did
not speak for the government D.
was said.
Good Conditions.
Or. GARFIELD is said 20 have told
individual. operators that The offer
made Dy them is as large as pres
eut conditions justify.
John T. Lewis president OF ine
United AIire workers. toniE
charged the operators with criu-
inally delaying" the negotiations
through a conspiracy" on the part
Of powerful interests" includiu.
both mine owners and others. wh.
have been openly opposing sell
Element"
Following two-hour session .f
the miners. ar Lewis announce
tina he workers had accepted Sec.
Wilson's proposal Thrs proposition.
submitted last Friday as made pub
lie today by 5Jr Wilson. provided Tor
fiat increase ia mining rates OF
27.12 cents per ton. fat Increase
u DAY wages OF SI58. and an in
crease iu yards and dead work OF
o1.61 percent. Mr. Lewis also an
nounced that the miners stood Oh
their Counter-propOsal for a seven
hour day. "a saturday half h0lidal.
and reference OF ali internal dis
pu,es back 10 the districts in which
+ lhcy originate for settlement
Separate Treaties.
some OF the operators includlng
mem bers OF the scale committee or
I the central competitive neld. Mr..
/ Lewis said. have indicated a willing
ness 90 make a separate treaty az
I peace" without waiting for concert
/ ed action. lie said. be had agreed 10
/ sign separate contracts.
/ Explaining his suggested wage adj
/ vances. Secy Wilson said he based
his calculations on an increase ~
/ Tg.8 percent i'm the cost OF living lu
three bituminous mining towns since
/ Dec. 1914 The increase OF Z7.lZ
I cents per ton was arrived at b. aver
I aging the balance needed 20 make
/ the Pittsburg and Hooking VALLEY
/ pick mining rates equivalent 90 the
/ increase III the cost Of living with
the margin on the same basis an
/ the Dauville and Indiana Ields.
Operators attacked Mr. Wilson's
! figures on the ground that from So
! 10 SO percent o. mining Ia the cen-
| trail competitive field is by machine.
/ Calculated on q basis OF machine
mining. Mr. Wilson's proposal would
! mean a wage raise Of lis percent.
/ they said. The secretary~s suggcs-
/ tion or s1.tI percent increase IN the
/ day wage would mean an increase
over 1915 Of 1911 percent they
adf~'