The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-22
RAIL PAY OFFER
FAILS; ENGLAND
AT LABOR CRISIS
Government to Hold Great
Armed Demonstration in
London To-day.
STRIKE WEDNESDAY,
Workers Triple Alliance
Asks ROadmen to Post
pOne Action.
MINERS ANGERED BY LAW
Threat to Use LOrries to Carry
Fuel and Provisions Adds
to Unrest.
MINERS ANGERED BY LAW
Specfoi Wireless Despatch to The suS.


Copyright. 1913: all rights reserved.
LONDON, March 21.-The National
Hailwaymen to-day rejected the Gov
ernments offer In the wage contro-
versy, casting a black shadow over the
labor situation in England. Tonight
the triple alliance-the rallwaymen,
the miners and the transport workers
passed resolution recommending
that the railwaymen continue at their
places pending further negotiations
with the Government in the hope Of
reaching solution OF the labor prob
lem. This action is interpreted to
mean that there will be no strike be-
fore next Wednesday. at the earliest.
The Government fearing an imme-
date strike had prepared to supply the
thickly populated districts with food
and fuel by using motor lorries. The
statement of Andrew Bonar Law, the
Government spokesman, in the House
Of Commons yesterday is tantamount
to threat against the miners ard has
aroused tremendous i'll feeling. and has
worked up the fighting spirit among
the Welsh miners
Prepared for Worst.
The Cabinet members left the meet
ing in Downing street hoping for the
best but prepared for the worst The
here since 1914 will be made to-mor
row when the Guards will march
through the city. This may dampen
the strike ardor.
LoNpoS. March 2l-One hundred and
Of the United Kingdom met to-day to
discuss the interim report Of the Coal
Commission. OF which Justice Sir John
Sankey is chairman, issued last night,
to decide as to whether there would be a
strike or peace IN the mining industry.
The conferees met without any recon-
mendauon from the executive officers
o, the unions before them.
After reviewing the report OF the Coal
Commission. Robert Smile, leader of
the miners, said he deeply regretted the
foolish utterances' OF Andrew Donar
Law, the Government spokesman, in the
House Of Commons yesterday, "in which
lie threatened the miners"
Test of strength Near.
"If a strike ensurd and the Govern
ment beat the miners. or they beat the
Government, the result would only show
which side was the stronger" Mr.. Smil-
lie declared.
After a general discussion OF the re-
port the conference adjourned until four
p. NJ to enable the miners executive
to make its recommendation on the mat
ters in question.
After the adjournment OF the confer
encc one OF the delegates said that the
Government report, the report of the
employers and that OF the miners rep
resentatives were being considered in
every detail
Things look better than they did" the
delegate added.
The conference at the morning session
passed a resolution conveying to Pres!-
dent Wilson and Premier Lloyd George
Our appreciation and support OF their
endeavor to secure the establishment OF
League of Nations In order that the
future peace OF the world may be pre-
served
NJ the afternoon session the execu-
tive committee advised the men TO con-
tlnue at work pending negotiations with
the Government to secure some modfca-
tions OF the Sankey report. The confer
ence approved this procedure by an over
whelming majority. This is considered
TO mean an ACCEPTANCE ot->the Govern
menfs @fef. sdr Ject t. "cceftain reserva-
tions. The conference adjourned TO meet
again next Wednesday
Increase Cost shown.
A detailed official statement which has
just been made public shows the average
earnings OF railwaymen in 1913 were
2S shillings pence n week, and that
tlfey were increased during the war by
33 shilltngs. In addition to this, It is
said, an eight hour day was granted.
These increased earnings and the shert-
ened hours OF labor. It Is said. added
f75, 900, 900 E3T5. 900. .0o0) to the annual
cost of operating the railways, to which
may be added f25, 900. 900 Sl25, 00O. .00O)
due to the increased cost OF materials
The statement sets forth details OF the
mems present demands, which II is said
would cost fl0O. 100000 (s50o. .o00, ,o00) a
year.
At a meeting OF the representatives of
the two unions OF railway men with Sir
Albert Stanley. president OF the Board
of Trade Sir Robert s. Horne, Minister
of Labor. and other Government officials
yesterday concessions were offered the
men as regards wages. Among other
things they were offered h forty -eight
hour week with continuapce OF their
present wages until the end OF the cur
rent year. This means. II Is declared
an increase In railway rates.