Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-12-13
IS PER CENT
OF men BACK
MINING COAL
GarfieId's Resignation to Be
Accepted, Says White House
Restrictions on Coal and
Trains Lifted in Many Places.
WAGE ADVANCE MAY BE
ADDED TO COAL PRICE

WAGE ADVANCE MAY Be
ADDED TO COAL PRICE
Director General Hines Gives
Regional Directors Permis-
/. sion to Rescind Regulations
On Heat, Light, and Power.
Washington, Dec. l2.-Fuel Ad-
ninistrator Garfeld's resignation
was placed today in the hands of
President Wilson and, it was said,
will, of course, be adopted"
White House officials~withheld the
letter, and DR.. Garfield declined to
discuss his action, but it was under
stood that it resulted from his, dis
approval of the decision of the ad-
ministration to place settlement of
the wage and price controversy in
the hands of a commission repre-
sentative of the, GOAL mining indus
try.
While the president was consider
ing the resignation the operators of
the central Pennsylvania district, one
of the largest in the country, made
public resolutions stating that the
presidents proposal to end the coal
strike was mo settlement of the
principles at stake" In a formal
statement the operators said the op-
orators and the public "have been
delivered into the hands of the
United Mine Workers of America"
Operators Not Hopeful.
Despite the agreement to end the
coal strike, the railroad administra-
tons central coal committee today
considered further drastic restric-
tions on the use of coal. Stocks on
hand have become dangerously low,
members Of the committee said, and
the utmost care must be exercised
until the production gets back to
something like normal.
Operators from all sections Of the
country still were here awaiting gov
ernment notification on steps al
ready taken and decision as to
their own policy. They said reports
to them showed that thus far onlSs
small percentage Of the striking
miners had returned to work.
Can Remove Embargoes.
Regional directors of railroads
were given authority tonight by Di-
rector General Hines to remove re-
tstrictions on the use of light, heat
and power derived from coal as soon
as the fuel situation warrants.
The directors also were authorized
to restore train service removed or
curtai]ed to meet the coal shortage
due to the bituminous miners strike
as soon as the fuel supply in the
various regions justifes.
Sending out of the instructions
constituted the first step taken By
the government i'll the light of ex-
pectation that miners would accept
the governments strike settlement
and return to work.
Lift Embargoes Everywhere.
Following the announcement by
Director General Hines, messages
came pouring in from many points in
the country indicating that restric-
lions were being lifted, not only par ,
tally but to the last degree, and that
men were returning to the mines.
Philadelphia wired that all restric-
slons on heat, light and power in the
Allegheny region had been removed,
effective at once. Complete passen-
ger service was also renewed, with
the exception of the Broadway
Limited" which will be resumed De-
cember Is.
The Illinois public utilities COM
cancelled all coal regulations
effective at noon Monday, it being
stated that all restrictions" will be
removed at that hour also although
Hale Holden of the central western
region had not ANNOUNCED canceila-
ton for his district.
Pittsburgh announced that all re-
strictions would be lifted SATURDAY
St. Louis wired that normal train
service would be resumed at mid
night Sunday.
Duluth announced that the lifting
of restrictions only awaited word
that the Illinois miners had returned
to work. At midnight word came
that men already had returned to
work at 81 out of 144 Illinois mines,
in S. out of 1l2 in Indiana. and in
SO out of so iui Iowa.
Pittsburg, Kan, wired that min
ers throughout the entire state will
return Immediately.
At Pittsburgh, Pa, it was stated
that 10000 men had returned in dis
trict FIVE alone.
rs Per Cent at Work.
The railroad administration re-
ceived unofficial estimates during
the day that from 65 to 20 per cent
Of the miners had gone back to
work. Private reports to operators
said that in Indiana nearly all the
men had returned. but elsewhere a
good deal of delay was being shown.
Fuel Administrator Garfeld's
sent to President VIII
son yesterday, was discussed by
White House officials who expressed
the belief that it would be accepted
-hough it was not indicated that the
Continued on rase Two. Column Xew.,