Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-11-28
In Seizure Cases IA
Per Cent Advance
Will Apply
STEP AGREED ON
BY THE CABINET
Operations to Be I'm
der Direction of Fuel
Administrator.

Seizure of bituminous coal mines
where the owners do not show a dis
position to cooperate in increasing
production and use of troops to pro-
tect all miners who desire TO WORK
have been decided upon by the gov
eminent in an effort to end the pltu-
minous coal strike, it was stated 'o-
day officially.
In mines seized by the government
the IA per. cent wage advance agieeo
upon by the cabinet will be put INTO
immediate effect, it was said
Agreed ON by Cabinet.
These plans of the government lie az
were agreed upon by the caolnel ia -
Wednesday. officials salo: 81 from a
meet the situation resulting TON
refusal of the operators or mlners y.
both, to agree to the government
wage increase proposal. mine
Cabinet officers expected many ay+ n
owners to put into effect voluntarily
the IA per cent wage inc s,;ne
Whether the mines Of those reluslis
to do SO would be seized was thnre
made clear. but it was sala ina
was no general plan for goveL,hin ne.s
control; that each individual case
would be decided on it's merits:
Mines taken over by the gove1s-
ment will be operated by the tue com
nensation to the owners were not as
closed
Firm Against Pronteering.
While various federal agencies were
preparing to carry out !ne stn-
ment's program Fuel Admlnlser ~. ~
GARFIELD reaffirmed in even more en-
phatic terms his position that prom
teering on the part of either labor or
capitaI will not be tolerated.
The public cannot and VIII not oe
asked to bear the increased burden OF
higher prices of coal nor OF the pay
ment of a large sum as wages to any
special class of workers., he salo.
Pointing out that his conclusions
had been reached only aIeer 6 sarsaui
declared neither the protestat1on OF
the miners against the IA per cent
wage advance, nor the insastencs q
the operators that they be permitte9
induce him to alter his decision that
a IL per cent increase was the amount
necessary to bring the miners wage
up to the level of living costs ana tnat
the operators could pay this advance
without increasing prices to the pup
lie.
DR.. Garheld states Position.
You would naturally go. should
say, to the Attorney General and to
the Secretary of War for detailed In
formation about steps the govern.
ment will take Immediately to deal
with the coal situation, DR.. Garneio
said. in reply to further questions.
"Of course, the government cannot
of itself produce coal. but it can give
others the opportunity to produce IT
and will do so. I hope the press Will
give emphasis to the fact that the
to supply at least the minimum needs
of the country"
The fuel administrator indicated the
official belief that enough miners to
produce sufficient coal for present
needs are willing'to return to work
at IA per cent wage increase II pro-
tected in their labor. Foreign and
radical elements will be restrained in
order to give working miners protec-
ton. he said.
Labor Department withdraw.
The Department of Labor has with
drawn from the controversy. 1t was
eaid there today, but is still interest
ed in promoting any negotiations
which may be offered by either side.
Secretary Wilson had long confer
ence with John L. Lewis, acting presi-
day. Mr.. Lewis would not indicate the
trend of the discussion.
Before leaving. for his. home in
Springfield. Ill. this afternoon, Lewis
Gompers. president of the American
Federation of Labor. The miners
chief would not say what attitude Mr..
tIOmDeTS expressed Win regard TO the
turn of events in the coal situation.
but Lewis said he would return here
for the big meeting of labor leaders,
which will open about December IL.
MI. Lewis Replies strenuously.
Asked IL he expected to be held in
any way personally responsible for
the fact that the miners have not
returned to work; if he expected any
sort of proceedings against him by
the Department of Justice. Lewis de-
clared:
/ don't intend to be. l consider that
] have carried out to the letter ali
the specifications of Judge Anderson's
Injunction"
.If officials of the government ask
YOU to make a personal. not an Off
ciaI. appeal to the miners to return
10 work. Mr.. Lewis. will you do so?"
."Who am to tell the miners to re-
turn to work in chains" the miners
chief replied; who am l TO try to
send men back to work at less than
a living wage? l appealed to the
Government officials to get for the
miners a 81 per cent wage increase. Was
the appeal heard faVorably? II was
Mr. Lewis was asked how long he
thinks the miners will be able to re-
main idle; what is their financial con-
dition.
,b,t " he answered Besides, ] don't
I;now officially that the miners are
.tiIl striking BY the way. since the
,.oyernment expects to see that sup
NV of coal is mined. did the officials
.sv where the miners are coming from
WHO'S going to supply them with
skilled miners|
Output IS Per Cent Normal.
II was said at the National Coal As
sociatjon offices today that yesterday
mines in operation produced SO per
cent of the normal supply for day
md the opinion was expressed that
his figure shortly could be brought up
to so per cent.
Attorney General Palmer did not re-
turn to the city from his Thanksgiv-
ing holiday until late today. No at
,acbes of his Office would say what
stems the Department of Justice is
taking in the coal situation.
Miners Reject GarfieId's
Offer of Ia Per Cent Raise;
Lewis Scores Government
Final break in the negotiations for
satisfactory wage agreement be-