Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-12-17
SOME MINERS GET
DOUBLE INCREASE
IN WAGES. CLAIM
Proposition of President VIII
son viii Bring About Boost
Doubling the IA Per Cent,
Witness TeStifieS.

washington, Dec, l6.-Thc senate
coal investigation committee, resuming
today its inquiry into the administra-
ton strike settlement agreement, was
sold by Tracy w, Guthrie, president of
the Hillman Coal and Coke company
that one clause in the proposition ad-
Vanced by President Wilson and ac-
cepted by the miners would bring
about an increase in the miners wages
az least doubling the IA per cent,
which DR., II. a. Garfield, resigned
tuel administrator, thought justified"
While the committee was pursuing
its inquiry, the railroad administration
withdrew the last semblances of the
restriction on fuel resulting from the
strike and began delivering coal to
the original consgnees instead of dis
tributing IT to points of greatest need,
1t rescinded the embargo on the moye-
ment of fuel oil out of the west, and
the orders reducing the amount of
coal permitted to go to coking ovens
At the White House today it was
said that President Wilson would not
appoint the commission provided in
the strike settlement proposal until|
Attorney General Palmer returns from
the vest, late this week.
The senatorial inquiry was reopened
with the calling of r.. V. Norris. engi-
neer of the fuel administration, who
wac conducted by Senator Frelinghuy-
sen, republican, of New jersey. chair
man of the committee, and Senator
townsend, republican, of Michigan,
through maze of statistics bearing
on labor costs and prices of necessi-
ties.
Secretary Wilson'S Plan.
secretary of Labor Wilson pro-
posed that the miners be given an in
crease of 3l,67 per cent" Mr. Nor
explained. because he based his cal |
culatlonS on the pay paid pick miners.
In 1917, when the coal mine wages
were readjusted, the pick miners were
getting the greatest amount, and the
scales were balanced UP by giving
them lesser increase than other
classes of labor around the mines. Thisl
was necessary in order TO induce the
men to do the other work.
pr. Garfield decided that o partic- |
ular wage group ought not 10 serve |
now as basis for calculations and |
look the average wage of all workers, !
AIter arriving at that, he found that
an addition of "a per cent 10 their
earnings would compensate them far
the cost of living since the last ad-
lustments were made"
Chairman Frelinghuysen asked II
lne witness approved OF the creation
"a commission composed of one min
er. one mine operator and one renre-
sentative of the public, with power to
Tx wages and prices
That would depend on the make-upI
p the commission" Norris re urnei.
put think at least n larger number
ought 70 be named. 1t gives two inter- /
ests a chance to combine against The
bird" '''V
Twenty Per Cent Idle.
ABOUT 20 per cent of miners are
die all the time. according fo our
experience with twenty-th three mines
,e toid the committee. THAT is. we
laye TO have 100 names on the INV
oll IN order to get 100 men on the
OBJ as constant factor. Miners ike
o celebrate all American HOLIDAYS
ma lot of foreign ones. Then thev
ave Mitchell day on April / In
ave rabbit day on November Ia
abbit" ~ 9iioo-
From mine accounts he read tho
e Sc2rd era orood, Of one miner who in 1S7 day
n n 'nv averagn present Vesef earned 5000. or
ald S12 rent for "companv house"
uring the period and his fuel bin wa
~ Other records furnished showed
asrnings during the first nine months
1918 ranging from S1.400 to $2100, /,
or Dick and machine miners.
Senator Wolcott. democrat OF Della
lare. drew out Mr.. Guthrie's view Of
ne claimed double increase N
llnerS wages involved in the settle
rent by observing that DR. Garfields
.fNst'i NtH lllt same us JDHt mt
orth by the president.
Powers of Commission,
As | read the memorandum given
ut by Attorney General Palmer. Mr. (
+uthrio replied. ''it is proposed to set !
D commission with power 10 fix {
age scales and coal prices. One of
ne things. this commission is to do is n
20 back to the mine districts and
attle what are known as internal dir 0
srences and disputes over differen-
saer Sas. AL All ,mindS previous agreement be-
ave provided that these differences :
1aiI be. compromised in a fashion !
lat Will not add to the cost of min
e or lower the earnings of men
ne governments proposal, as | view Z
NAV result in twice the IA per cent +
Icrease in miners wages and mining
low" w 7
Senator Wolcott incurred as 10
neither, an actual settlement OF the
'al strike had yet been attained.
INK you are bound by an agreemen; !
sked ''''o' j
No I don't" Guthrie replied. Y
That's right" Senator Wolcott z
!lqi tho nInere There has been no acceptance !!
~ power in the government to set II
} a commission which will fix wages n
iyisory" {
Chairman Frelinghuysen. after ad p
'urnment of the session. said there b
ould be more hearings but did moi
x date for them. {
ARRANZA REPLIES TO :
THE SECOND AMERICAN f
N0TE IN IENKlMc rkcE .