The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-11-25
Will Furnish Basis for An
Agreement Curtail-
ment of Fuel RatiOns
Continues - Miners Are
Not Returning In Any of
Large Coal Fields-Hope
In Chicago Is Centered
On WashingtOn's Deci-
sion
sion

WASHINGTON, Nov. 25.-President
Wilson 5 cabinet expected to reach a
decision today on the wage eontrover
sy between the bituminous coal miners
and operators that would send the min
ers back to work. Before entering the
meeting Attorney General Palmer said
that if the figures as to the operators
profits given yesterday by Former See
retary of the Treasury McAdoo were
correct, it was not likely that Fuel Ad
ministrator Garfield would permit an
increased price for coal. Any wage adj
vances granted, it was intimated, would
have to come out of the operators pro-
fits
DIR. Garfield took to the cabinet meet
ing bituminous coal production cost
figures prepared by r. V. Norris, en-
gineer for the fuel administration dur
ing the war who has been bringing up
to date the cost sheets. These figures
| were expected to furnish the basis for
an agreement in the cabinet as to the
amount of the wage increase the op-
rators would be called upon to bear.
| Operators and miners spent two hours
in conference today without breaking
the deadlock as to wages. Leaders on
both sides said the negotiations would
not be continued until after the eabi-
net had acted.
| The five principles announced by DIR
Garfield Yesterday were:
| "'The first-the public must not bt
asked TO pay more than it now is pay
ing for coal unless it is necessary to dc
so in order to provide reasonable wages
to the mine workers and n, reasonabl,
/ profit to the operators.
"Second-the arrangement entered
into between the operators, the min,
workers and the fuel administration
with the sanction of the President o
the United States in October, 1917, wa
intended to equalize the wages of al
classes of mine workers and to be suf
: ficient to cover the period of the wal
but not beyond March 81, 1920; henc
the only increase i'll cost of hvin
which can now be considered is the in
crease above provided for by the av
erage increase in 1917; that is to say
t the average total increase in pay owe
! the 1913 base, which was the base cor
/ sidered in 1917, should not exceed tn
present average increase in the cost @
living over the same base It is also t
be considered that the cost of livin
viii fall rather than rise during ii
d next few wears
!, FThird-The maximum prices fixe
= by the government on coal were calcl
lated to increase production of coal fl
war purposes. Coal was basic and I'll
d increase imperative. The public ougl
not to be asked to pay and will n,
!, now pay the increase over normal pr
G fits then allowed for the purpose
e stimulating production.
ri Fourth-any increase in wages no
arrived at on the basis of the foreg
: ing principles should be borne by II
I'll operators or the public or both as m;
II be determined by the application
III these principles and should take effe
II as of the date when the men return
III work
III sFifth-the needs of the Unit
II States are not alone to be considere
ii Europe is in desperate need of coal al
should have all that we can spare -