Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-11-06
High Officials Sure
Miners Will Re-
turn i'm Week.
COMPROMISE WAGE
INCREASE LIKELY
Part of Plan Is to Defer
Action on Restrain
ing Order.

At tomorrow's meeting of the cabi
net action Is expected to be taken
looking to a speedy ending of the
bituminous coal strike. In high OFF,
cial circles today confidence was ex-
pressed that within a week the miners
will be back at work.
Those who have brought the situa-
ton to this degree of hopefulness are
not willing to discuss in advance the
plan they have worked out. but their
optimism is based on information re-
ceived direct from headquarters of
both the miners and mine owners. A
part of the program. 1t is known. Is
that when the restraining order is
sued against officials of the United
Mine Workers comes up for hearing
in the United States district court at
Indianapolis Saturday the case will
be continued without action. prob
ably for another week.
Work Out Details Later.
1t is recognized by those in author
ity here. 1t was said today. that to
bring the strike to an end without a
protracted struggle there must be q
concession in wages to the miners,
and this will involve an increase in
the selling price Of coal SUFFICIENT to
cover the wage increase. An ADJUST
ment which would put the miners
back at work within a week probably
would hit only the high spots in the
controversy between miners and mine
owners, possibly could extend no fur
Their than a compromise wage in
crease. But with the mining of coal
resumed it IL not anticipated there
out a settlement OF the subordinate
issues.
Reports indicate. that both the min
ers and operators are keenly conscious
of the seriousness OF the situation
which they brought about, and that
both are more willing than they were
two weeks ago to compromise. 1t is
not believed that either the position
| Of the operators that they will not
negotiate while the miners are on
strike. or that of the miners, that they
| will not negotiate while the restrain
! ing order stands, will be permitted to
stand In the way Of q settlement. Pub
lie opinion has made its weight felt.
! and responsibility for continuing the
strike when way was open for set
Element honorable to both sides would
be too heavy for either party to as
sumo.
Shows Increased Production.
Information in the hands of govern
ment officials in touch with the strike
situation today indicated an increase
in bituminous coal production, espe-
cialIy in the West virgini1 fields. A
further detection of union forces was
noted in the reports, although officials
were not able to say whether the break
in the union ranks was increasing to
any great extent. This phase of the
situation is being watched closely by
the government departments. particu-
larly The railroad administration Gnd
the Department of Justice.
Director General Hines reiterated
today that no community need fear
that it would be cut of entirely from
fuel supplies so long as the stocks
under supervision of the railroad ad-
ministration last.
He declared the primary purpose of
the machinery set up by his ONCE was
to guard against concentration Of coal
stocks in one section to the detriment
of another
Railroad administration officials re-
fused to accept seriously published,
reports Of traffic congestion in some
of the larger terminals. Members Of
the director generals staff were. In
conference last night and again today
examining detailed reports of traffic
movements.
These reports showed no difficulties
in car movement thus far. they said.
No official, however, would venture a
prediction as to the traffic problem to
be met in the next two weeks, should
the strike continue that long.