The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-03-21
SEVEN AND SIX
HOUR DAYS FOR
BRITISH MINERS
NATURALIZATION OF
INDUSTRY FAVORED
Government Accepts Report
of the Sankey Commis-
sion-Wages Go Up.

LONDON, March 2o.?Thc interim re-
nort to the coal commission OF when
Justice Sir John Sankey is chairman
issued tonight. recommends seven
hours Of work underground, instead Oh
eight, from July s. and six hours from
july IS, 1921. subject 10 th2 economic
position of tho industry.
LONDON. March @n."(By tho Asso-
ciated Press. .)-Andrcw Bonar Law. the
government spokesman. in state
rlrnL in the house Of commons THIS
evening. said that the government had
accented the report Of tho SPECIAL coal
commission, Of which Justice Sir Jonn
Sankcy is chairman. including It's uh-
dertnking 10 report on the question Oh
national izaticn by May 20. and TO Is
sue interim reports from time To time
on the problem Of improvements IN
the coal industry.
Proposals Of this nature would be
put into immcdiate operation. declared
Mr.. Bonar Law. This involved the con-
tinuancc of coal control for two
year.
Reduction IN Hours.
With reference 10 the Sankey report,
which ho explained was signed by three
representatives Of the employers not
directly concerned in the coal indus
try. and granted tho miners two
thirds Ct their %d:mands In wages, Mr.,
Bonar Law said that the signer OF the
report recommended further reduc-
ton in hourse in 1921 because they
assumed that by than the output or
1913, namely. 2S7.000,000 tons. wouid
be resumed. The estimated cost OF
whatw as recommended for the current
years is $4,000 pounds sterling.
1t was proposed that the profits OF the
coal masters should be- limited TO four
teen pence per ton. Taking all Things
into consideration. the estimated cost 10
the taxpayers would be nearly 30.V0'Vo0
pounds sterling.
MIR Bonar also stated that the en-
ployers had made. what he himself ana
the labor minister considered reasonable
proposals to the transport workers. and
he. had reason to believe these would
prove acceptable to the men.
The. negotiations with the railroad
men had not been concluded. A detailed
statement of the mems dAD1ands and the
sum involved, together with details OF
the governments offer. would be pub
liShed. - -r -~ti-: '--..r ! r. .4.r
Meanwhile. said the speaker. the gov
crnment had definitely proposed tnat
wages, including the war bonus. should
be retained at the present level until
the end Of the current year.
Higher Wages.
The report recommends an increase in
wages Of two shillings per shift Tor
collicry workers now under sRdlhS
scales and an advance Of one shlllinN
for workers under Ii years.
In the interest Of the country the col
licrH workers will get an effective voice
in the direction Of the mines.
The present system Of ownership and
working is condemned and substitute
must be found either in naturalization
or unificaton. by national purchase Or
joint control.
Tho Sankcy report points out that the
recommendations mean the distribution
annually OF 300o0.o00 pounds sterling
additional in wages and that it should
be considered whether a penny per ton
should be collected at ONCE on coal
brought to the surface. to improve the
housing in the coll;ery districts. This
would equal 100000 pounds sterling
yearly
The Sankcy report also is signed by
Arthur Balfour, who was master cutter
Of Sheffield in 1911-l2 and has been
connected with various advisory conf
mitteps; Sir Arthur Duckhan. director
general Of aircraft production. and Sir
Thomas Roydcn, member Of the ship
ping control committee.
4 third report by the miners repre-
scptativcs recommends acceptance in
full Of the miners demands. including
national alization.