Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-11-24

FACTIONS AGAIN DEADLOCKED
Mine Owners Say Government
Must Assume Responsibility
for Wage Increase.

WASHINGTON. Nov. os.-Both the
operators and the miners we're look
ing tonight to DR.. Harry Garfield,
United States fuel administrator, to
take the next step toward enectins a
settlement OF the coal strike ncgotia-
tions.
AS matters stand tonight tho con-
ference is again deadlockcd over the
question OF the wage increase which
is the dominant issue. The best that
the operators have offered is 90 per
cent raise: the least that tho miners
nave agreed to accept is 4 10 per cent
increase. Neither side manifesto any
disposition tonight 10 compromise fur
ther.
Along with this resume OF the situa-
tion 1t is also clear that the public will
wage scale. The operators reasserted
tonight that their offer of 20 per cent
increase was conditioned upon govern
ment approval, and that the govern
ment must take the responsibility for
any wage agreement finally determined
upon.
The burden of saying just how much
a raise in wages the consuming pub
lie may be fairly expected TO bear tails
upon the United States fuel admnis-
tration. For that reason DR.. Garfield Is
now expected TO come forward and
speak more definitely than he did last
week when he laid government data
and averages of labor costs and Iiv-
| Ing costs before the coal conference.
Miners Awaiting Call.
| Whether the coal conference will get
down to business again tomorrow is
problematical. The miners said today
! that they were waiting for the opera
tors TO tell them when they were ready
TO go on with negotia tions. The oper-
to meet them again and advise them
what to do.
I DR.. Garfield said tonight that he
could not say whether he would meet
whether any conference would be held
| before Tuesday.
| Another conference on the coal sit
uation is expected to be held tomorrow
er, Judge Ames. Of the Attorney Gen
rector general OF railroads.
! 1t is entirely possible that the neEo-
tiations will mark time until the
whole situation is put up 10 the cabinet
at its meeting Tuesday. The operators
pointed out today that there is a wide
difference between the position taken
| BY DR. GARFIELD and by Secretary OF La
| ber Wilson. and that the Cabinet will
| have to decide the lead which the gov
ernment vii! follow
| Secretary Wilson's Analysis.
Secretary Wilson's analysis of the
controversy is that there should be 4
! fiat increase in mining rates OF 27.1.
cents per ton. fiat Increase in day
wages of s1.5S. and an increase In yard
age and dead work of 31.61 per cent
While DR.. Garfield has not yet made
specific recommendation in definite
percentages and figures. the operators
claim that the data of the United States
fuel administration will not support
the offer which Secretary Wilson said
should be made to the miners. and
which the miners promptly said they
would accept.
The operators said today that the
economic facts of the coal industry
show that there should be no wage in
crease at all.
! But they said they offered 90 per
cent because the government had told
them to offer the miners something SO
as 10 break the deadlock and induce
the miners TO resume work.
The operators said that they had
gone as far as they could and that to
offer more would not only he requiring 6
the consumer to pay an excessive price.
but that 1t would have the effect OF
wrecking the coal industry by open
ing the way for successful competition
on the part of the Mexican oil fields.