New-York tribune., 1919-11-27

did say, time after time. that he be-
.teyed the IA per cout advance would
be sufficient TO pace the workers in
The coal industry where they can meet
the increased cost of living.
DR.. Garfield declined to answer in
me aihrmatlve many questions de-
signed to show that in making his
proposal he indicated that the Presi
dents Cabinet had repudiated the sug-
gestion of William B. Wilson, the Sec
retary Of Labor, for wage increase
OF 3l.61 pc rcent. He made it clear
That he and Mr.. Wilson had agreed
that each had a different function to
performing as Fuel Administrator, to
see that the public should not be
charged an unreasonable price for
coal-Mr. Wilson as head of the De-
partment of Labor to mediate and con-
cliiate IN labor disputes. He said he
understood that Mr.. Wilson made his
proposal for a 31.G1 per cent increase
merely as a basis for compromise
and not the final word of the gov
crnment.
Discrepancy Causes Surprise
notwithstanding DR.. Garfeld's exon
Grafton of Secretary Wilson, the dis
crepancy between their figures, which
came at the conclusion of a. two-h our
and a-half Cabinet meeting to-day and
two sessions that lasted six hours YES
terday. caused much surprise among
both miners and operators. The fact
that DR.. Garfield also proposed that
the Secretary of the Interior, and not
the Secretary Of Labor. be made chair
man of the permanent consultative
body gave color to the belief that the
Cabinet did not find Mr.. Wilson'S sug-
gestion to the miners to its liking, and
as an indication that it concluded it
mad reached the point where it could
not longer temporize with inordinate
labor demands.
With the conclus ION of his statement
Or. Garfield became the storm center
of the miners, while the operators
gathered in the big meeting room kept
silent. "May | ask" said John l..
Lewis, acting president of the United
Mine Workers, whether in arriving
AT these figures you gave the miners
an opportunity TO present their
claims?"
Both Factions Ignored
"No, MIR. Lewis" was the reply;
neither the operators nor the miners
presented their case further than it
was presented by statistics
When the miners came to Wash
ington," replied Mr.. Lewis, "they did
so at the request of the Secretary of
Labor, member of the Cabinet
charged under the law with mediation
and conciliation in labor disputes We
assembled here and we were advised
that the Secretary of Labor also rep
resented the Cabinet of the United
Sfafnc n ND hoA r. !
OF the President of the United States.
The Secretary of Labor, acting under
such authority, offered the mine work
ers an increase in wages of 3l6l per
cent as what he believed adequate as q
government officer to meet the necessi-
tles OF the situation Now. 7 ask Won
whether it is the intention of the gov
eminent to repudiate that agent who
otered us the 3l61 per cent Increase
Is that the intention of the govern
ment?"
Garfield Declines to Answer
10 answer that yes or no, Mr.
Lewis" replied DR.. Garfield, "would b,
to give false impression"
Responding to questions from will.
lam Green. Secretary of the mins
workers, DIR. Garfield said he did moi
propose that the public should paw any
OF the Ia per cent wage Increase He
said he believed it would be sufficient
20 give the miner wage on a parity
with workers in other industries. TAX.
ing the average working year of the
miner to be 200 days. he said the aver
age earnings under the existing scale
would be about $3.50 a year. a little
more than men in other industries
he admitted that such an increase
meeting the increased cost of liyinp
would just about put the miners where
they were in 1914, but he refused to
say there Is not hope for the miners
getting more than the IA per cent in
crease.
Impasse With Wilson
Eventually Mr. Green got around to
the point that Mr.. Lewis had pounded
away upon so long and asked about
the differences between Secretary Will
sons proposal and that of DR.. Garfield.
There is an impasse there" said
DR.. Garfield. II don't deny it. He
doesn't deny it."
He went on to explain that Mr.. Will
son had arrived at his figures for an
increase by taking pick miners as
small part OF the industry and that if
mine workers generally were given the
3l61 per cent inGyease IL would mean