Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-14
WRONG PRINCIPLES.
IN COAL PROPOSAL
SAYS DR.. GARFIELD
Former Fuel Head Declares
Public Should Not Be in
Minority on Board.
RESIGNATION, rendered
AS PROTEST, ACCEPTED
Tells Senate Subcommittee That He
Relieves He Represents Presi-
dents Real Opinion.

President wilson's plan for settling
the coal strike accepted by the strtk-
ers. DR.. Harry A Garfield. former
fuel administrator. told Senate SUBJ
committee yesterday afternoon that
they were Fundamentally wrong as
a matter Of government"
DR.. Garfields resignation. rendered
the President because of his views
was accepted yesterday together with
the designations of one or two of his
associates in the fuel administration
The former fuel administrator said
that he believed he had represented
that this would have proved to be the
case if he had been able to see the
President and talk matters over with
him.
DO you see anything patriotic in
the action of Lewis and his associates in
calling of the striker" Senator Freling-
huysen asked. referring to message OF
congratulation sent from the White
House.
Not more so than when you or ]
obey the law generally DR.. Garfield
answered.
Requested to Appear.
DR.. Garfield appeared at $40 O'Clock
yesterday afternoon after he had been
requested to do so by Senator Freling-
huysen of New Jersey. chairman of a
subcommittee of the interstate COM
merce committee which has been inves-
tigating the whole coal situation.
While, discussing with some free
dom "a cleavage in the cabinet"
caused by strike settlement negotia-
tions. DIR. Garfield withheld answers
to questions by Senator Frelinghuy-
ing confidential intercourse with his
former associates during the strike
period
He adhered to this refusal, though
Senator Townsend. republican. Mich
igan. and Senator Myers. democrat,
Montana. Joined the chairman in urg-
ing replies. and refused to furnish a
COPY of his letter Of resignation.
whfch he indicated had explained his
views to the President. -
Senator Frelinghuysen fntimated
that Attorney General Palmer and
other officials connected with the
strike settlement would be called
later.
States Objection to Plan.
MY objection" DR. Garfield said of
the settlement plan. goes to the point
that the commission which 1 under
stand will be set up to decide wages
and prices will be composed of three
to be a coal mine operator. and the
third to represent the general public.
Under it. the public. which is the
chief party at interest, would always
be in the minority"
Has IT been your experience with
the coal industry that employees and
employers might have a common in
terest in increasing wages and costs
and passing that increase on to the
public in prices?" Senator Townsend
asked.
They may have that common inter-
est" DR.. Garfield responded. qualifying
his answer by saying that he was not
charging that this would be the nee.
eSsary result
u believe 1 represent the real opin
ion of the President in the matter" he
said later; that is. if l were able tc
see him and talk it over. because
know his mind.
Sketching the history of strike ne.
gotiatIons. DIR. Garfield explained thai
he thought members of the cabinet
were standing with him in his sug
wages and an advisory commission t.
review the facts from which he de.
rived the II per cent clause. Wher
this was refused he added. he though
the question was going to be Tough
out"
Refuses to Produce Telegram.
DR.. Garfield would not produce a tel
eral Palmer. confirming that under
standing. for which he was asked.
Discussing proposals which he had
submitted to the cabinet. DIR. Garfield
IT had no power under the Leve,
act to fix wages, but did have power
to fix prices. and the determination
OF reasonable prices involved finally
1 drew up statement of principles
which I thought should govern the
determination of reasonable wage.
and submitted that to the cabinet"
They were with you on that state.
ment?" Senator Frelinghuysen ask ed
Yes, except as to the second of the
principles stated" DIR. Garfield re-
sponded- That was one which sale
the average wage of workers in the
industry ought to be taken as a guide
in fixing increases allowed to NEE
the cost of living. and not the wage.
OF a single group. Secretary of Labor
Wilson desired the increases so giveI
to be estimated on the wages Of picl
miners"
What was your objection to that,
Senator Townsend asked.
"Basing the Increase on the wag
of pick miners" DIR. Garfield said
would have resulted in securing al
average increase of 179 per cent il
wages in the industry over the pc
Rod since 1913, when the Secretar,
of Labor conceded that the increas
per cent"
Differences of Opinion
Some members of the cabinet" Dr.
Garfield said. supported him, an
some the Secretary of Labor, but al
were in agreement on the balance O
the proposal. He had finally take
the responsibility of putting throug
his settlement suggestion without Sc
curing a unanimous agreement of tn
cabinet.
II conceived myself to be the re
sponsible officer he said. believing
that 1 had authority to determin
price questions. The matter was no
presented to President Wilson"
Applying the principles laid dowi
DR.. Garfield said. he decided that l
per cent would meet the increase
cost of living and that operators coul
pay 1t out of profits and still kee
enough mines running to supply tn
nation with coal under the fixed pric
Of $685. a ton. The miners decided t
refuse. and continued the strike.
Il went home. thinking the matte
was to be fought out" he said.
sAnd after that proposals were mad
In the government to take the matte