Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-12-06

Springfield, ILL.,, Dec. 5.--A settle.
mont Of tho mine strike In Ohio
and Pennsylvania would be fol.
lowed quickly by a settlement in
Illinois, Frank harrington said to-
day. ..--,
Washington, Dec. 6.--Not one cent
can be added to the price Of coal to
finance any increase In wages Of min.
ers, Fuel Administrator Garfield said
today after reading dispatches saying
that Governor Cox, of Ohio. asked
miners and operators in that state to
compromise on a rs per cent raise IN
pay for the men. DR.. Garfield inot-
Gated that the government would en-
ter no objection II the increase could
be given without any increase In coal
prices.
There can be no increase In tho
price of coal under the Lever act" DR..
Garfield said. He added that his posi-
ton was absolutely UNCHANGED from
that OF Nov. %, when the IL per cent
offer was decided upon.
He indicated that the increase sus-
ees.ed was merely that which the op-
orators were able to grant without ad-
yancing the price Of coal, which tn0
government bas f,xed.
Prosecution Of Profiteers Ordered.
Prosecution of western coal produce
ers for alleged profiteering was order
ed today by Attorney General Palmer.
On complaints fled by Senator Cap
per, Of Kansas, federal agents were
ordered TO proceed against fuel pro-
tiucers who have taken advantage OF
the coal shortage to increase the price
of their product
simultaneously the railroad admin
istration established an embargo
against shipment OF -1vsl .6a&Tl =
east Of Chicago and st. Loun. THIS
action was necessary. 1t WIS explain
ed. TO conserve the small supplies 81
fuel west of the Mississippi and %
compel the use of fuel oil instead.
Pro6tssrine in Oil.
OIL producers, Senator Cappef SAID.
have increased their prices from near
ly 81 q barrel to $3.50 q barrel. De-
caring that scores Of Industrial plants
had converted their fuel eQuipmehs
into oil consuming plants, since the
strike began, Senator Capper said the
increase had placed . burden on them
Senator Capper said the quotations
made by big firms were practically
the same, He said the embargo would
aid in forcing down prices and make It
unnecessary to haul GOAL from eastern
districts. The shipment Of oil In the
regular channels will not be disturbed
and plants which used oil for fuel
prior to Nov. will be taken care OF.
Nav Menace Arises.
All bituminous coal mines now In
operation must close within q week
unless the railroad administration pays
for the coal 1t has confiscated, said a
statement today by the American
Wholesale Coal Association.
The association said the railroad ad-
ministration had refused to pay for the
coal until q price 1t considered fair had
been fixed by DR.. Garfield and that the
the latter had refused to change his
ruling.
producing 1000 tons of coal, the
nations whole supply, said the state
ment,
II the mines are to continue running
they must have money to meet pay
rolls, said the statement. The railroad
administration has paid for no coal for
sixty days. III
Garfield Standing Pat. (
So far as could be learned the fuel
administrator is disposed to let the
fight proceed, with the expectation that
the miners either will accept the IA per
cent Increase proposed or return to
work Independently Of formal action
by the mine workers union.
Meanwhile the government will press
conservation measures and urge fur
ther action by state and municipal Of
flcials to limit coal consumption. Of
ficials say production has now reached
43 per cent Of normal and they look for
an increase next week as a result OF
the department Of justice demonstrat-
ing its determination to prosecute mine
officials charged with violation of the
federal Injunction.
II there is to be any change in the
governments policy it can only be
brought about thru stirring appeals
from communities suffering worse than
is the east. Thus far there Is no ap-
preciable Inconvenience due to the
strike in this section OF the country,
where officials have opportunity to OBJ
serve conditions. It is reported tonight
that Governor Lowden, Of Illinois, 10
sending Lieutenant Governor Oglesby
as emissary to Washington to plead
for further action to settle the strike
and send more coal to the central west
at once. Such appeals may bring re-
suits.
Won't Bend to Minors.
When the cabinet decided last week
to fight the miners union to a finish It
believed the country could stand It.
Before 1t will recede from that policy
It, probably will be necessary for the
presidents advisers to be convinced
that their conclusion IL mistaken one.
Operators also remain obdurate and
will not countenance any compromise
With ~ strikers. Persistent reports