Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-06
GARFIELD FORB|DS
COAL-PR|CE RISE
All Bituminous Mines May Close
Until U, S. Pays for
Seized Fuel
MICHIGAN FACES SHUTDOWN
Rv the Associated Press

Washington. Dec. 6.--Not one cent
can be added TO the price of coal to
finance any increases in the wages of
miners. Fuel Administrator Garfield de-
clared today. after reading press dis
patches that Governor Cox. Of Ohio.
had proposed that miners and operators
in that state compromise on the basis
of n 25 per cont advance in pay for
the men.
Doctor Garfield indicated that the
government would interpose no OBJ
lection if the increase could be given
without advancing coal prices.
There will be no increase in the
present price Of coal as iixed under the
Lever act. Doctor Garfield said mo
matter what local arrangements and
agreements are put into effect.
He added that his position was alb
solutely unchanged from that taken on
November 26. with thc authorization
of the, cabinet. Doctor Garfield, cx-
planned then, in suggesting the Il per
ccut advance. which the miners prompt
ly rejected that he was not fixing wage
scales. and had no authority TO do so.
He indicated that the increase sug-
gCsted was merely that which the oper-
ators were able to grant without ad-
vancing the price Of coal which the
government mas hNed.
All bituminous coal mines nov in
operation must close within n week un ID
less the railroad administration pays
for the coal it has conhscated or dl-
verted. said statement today by the
American Wholesale Coal Association
The association said the railroad ad-
ministration had refused to pay for the
coal until a price it considered fair had
been fixed by Doctor Garfield and that
Doctor Garfield had refused to change
his price ruling.
Mines which will be affected, the
statement said, are producing now
400. 900 tons of coal weekly, the sole
supply for the nation in the present
crisis.
eff the mines are to continue TO pro
ducc coal they must have money to
meet their payrolls." said the state
ment The railroad administration is
taking 60 per cent of this coal. 1t has
paid for no contscated or diverted coal
for sixty days and refuses to pay until
a price which it considers fair is fixed
by Doctor Garfield. Doctor Garfield
has refused to change his price rulings.
So long as this deadlock continues coal
mines can get no money for coal which
has been mined and shipped"
Detroit. Mich. Dec. 6.--(By A. P.)
Unless there is an immediate better
ment in the fuel situation upwards of
gan face the possibility of being thrown
out of work during the next few days,
in the opinion of leading employers.
In Detroit alone approximately 200
600 men may face temporary unemploy-
ment the coming week as the result of
notification given the employers as
s9cation by the Detroit Edison Co, that
power viii be furnished to only essential
industries, that to other plants being
cut four 6fths. This company fur
nishes 20 per cent of the power used in
Detroit factories.
At Lansing dozens of plants have
already suspended. and others will close.
At Muskegon the largest factories are
declared to have fuel for but few days.
Columbus, o., Dec. 6.-(By A. P. y
Monday is expected to see a crisis in
the coal situation in Ohio. Several
cities are virtually out of coal, among
them being Cleveland, Canton, Dayton,
Youngstown and Newark. No further
action was taken today by Governor
Cox or miners and operators relative
to settlement for the state. Both
operators and miners returned to their
homes over Sunday, but will be ready
to resume negotiations here Monday.
Springfield. Ill, Dec. 6.-(By A. P }
A settlement of the strike of the
miners in Ohio and western Pennsyl-
vania would be followed quickly by a
settlement in the Illinois field, Frank
Harrington. president of the Illinois
miners, said today.
Knoxville, Tenn. Dec. 6.-(By A. p
Notice was served on miners and
operators here today by Governor Rob
erts that all the resources of the state
in men and money would be used to
produce coal unless the strike was
ended speedily.