New-York tribune., 1919-11-25
L. 5. Expected to Suggest
WageAdvance Of About
25 Per Cent and Make
1t Il Virtual Command
MIR. Wilson TO Back
Decision of Council
Federal Control of Mines
To Be Avoided Except
as the Last Alternative
Neso York Tyibnn.
= rsStfrcfoH Buyrur

Nesr York Tyibnn.
H1sit'nrtcH Bureau
WASHINGTON, Nov. 24.--Pres-
ident Wilson's Cabinet will make
one more effort at its meeting to-
morrow to bring the bituminous coal
operators and miners into agreement
and get the mines back to normal
production at once through "a per
centagc Of wage Increase, which
viii bear the stamp of government
approval and which both sides viz
tually will be told TO accept.
Fuel Administrator Garfield told
the Joint wage scale committees Of
operators and miners tonight thai
any wage increase should be "bornc
by operators or the public or both. =
He did not go into details, but it is
understood he meant that a por-
ton of the increased wage Of the
miners must come from the excess
profits of the operators.
Just what wage increase will be pro
posed by the government after to-mor-
rows Cabinet meeting WAS not dis
closed, but it was generally believed
il will be somewhere between the 3f.6i
per cent over the existing scale pro-
posed by Secretary Wilson and the 90
per cent increase proposed by the op~
orators. The miners last week agreed
to accept Mr.. Wilson'S increase and
declined TO accept that Of the opera
tors, while the operators refused t.
agree TO the 3loi per cent and stood
on their own figures As more than sufi
Gent 10 meet the increased cost o.
living.
Federal Control Deprecated
he best information tonight was 20
t'fe effect that the Cabinet will not be
asked 10 approve the taking over 0
the mines or sheif operation by the
Federal government. though some Of
hcials believe this is me only way N
which solution can be reached IN tho
lace of the disagreement between the
miners and the Cptia'ofs
The Cabinet viii be asked 70 frame
statement to the operators, tn
miners and the people which viii SET
forth 10 all sides the figures on which
the wage Increase is basel both with
d view TO fair proa, by The operator
ana = tar wage 80 the miners IN view
OF ihc increased cost OF lYing
Ine framework FOR such a statement
was lall to-day at long conference
between Attorney General Palmer. u
rector General Hines OF the Railroad
administrations. Dr. Harry Garfield
eIerai Fuel Administrator. and c. +
Ames. the Assistant Attorney Genera
WAC has been active IN the coal case.
Garfield Prepares Cost Sheets
Dr. Garfield has prepared extensive
sheets showing the cost 20 the
operators Of mining operations. and
other departments of the government
nave the figures to show the Increase
in the cost Of living
" hile the cabinet statement is ex-
pccted 20 be almost in the nature Of
a command to both sides TO get to
getaer, II was understood tonight IL
n'g 4 carry with II AN appeal to the
patriotism Of both sides to reach an
'greemen, and have the miners return
% work
President Wilson him elf may be
asked 10 approve the statement and
give II the weight of his Office. with
both sides aud with the public 2
II is assumed the advance the eov-
ernment viii suggest viii be some
where around % per cent. about the
alf-way point between the figures ac-
cepted by the miners and those offered
oy the operators.
What di position viii be made OF the
miners demands for shortened work
day and half holiday on Saturdays
raf Of
proper localities. was not clear to-
night, but II was regarded AS possible
n Il the cabinet VIII ask the miners 10
sucmlt ties" question . arbitration
Secretary Wilson weeks ago suggest
ed an eight hour hank-to- bank day.
which means from an hour 10 an hour
and hall less than the miners now
" IN coupled with IA Saturday half
holiday. He may be able to convince
the re of the Cabinet that some such
provisions be contained in the govern
ment suggestion.
Final Alternative Not Clear
What the government may do If les
last appeal fails to bring an agreement
was probiematical. Ii can take over
the mines under the Lever act, but
many discussions among members O.
the Cabinet since the trouble betwee,
the miners and operators first began
have not disclosed any sentiment fo-
such action. The two-year experiences
the government has had with the
railroads and the fact tina. under no
could it compel the
m iners to go back to work, In them
selves have deferred officials from seri-
Gus consideration of government con-
troll.
Hat rejection of the governments
proposal for an agreement, however.
would present another problem and