Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-12-14
GARFIELD TELLS
WHY He CAVE UP
THANKLESS JOB
. a "a To Settle Wages
~ sq'9 sarrs,.' Vii Have Only
One = '~sopsSS t Represent
ing ConSum>S 5.

w dSillllEkullt Lee. lD---f Z liiNlpttI
underlying Pres dent Wilson's plan
for the settlement of the coal strike,
! accepted by the miners. are "funda-
mentally wrong IS matter Of gov
ernment," DR.. Harry A. Garfield fed
eral fuel administrator until today,
g., told a hastily assembled subcommit-
tee of the senate tonight His res
ignation. sent to President Wilson be-
/ cause of his views, was accepted to-
/ day with those OF one or two of his
associates, he said.
| While discussing with some free
dom "a cleavage in the cabinet"
| caused by strike settlement negotia-
tions, DR.. Garfield withheld answers
| to questions by Senator Frelinghuy-
/ sen, republican, New Jersey, chair
| man of the subcommittee. on matters
he regarded as touching confidential
| intercourse with his former associates
| during the strike period. He adhered
to this refusal though Senator Town
send, republican, Michigan, and Sem
ator Myers. democrat, Montana, join
ed the chairman In urging replies and
| refused to furnish a copy of his letter
of resignation, which he indicated
had explained his views to the presi-
dent.
Public in Minority.
Senator Frelinghuysen intimated
| that Attorney General Palmer and
other officials connected with the
strike settlement would be called
later.
MY objection" Mr. Garfield said
of the settlement plan, goes to the
point that the commission which L
understand will be set up to decide
wages and prices composed of three
members, one to be a miner, another
to be coal mine operator and the
third to represent the 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 common in
terest in increasing wages and costs
and passing that increase on to tho
public in prices?" Senator Townsend
asked.
They may have that common in
terest," Mr.. Garfield responded. quail
flying his answer by saying that he
was not charging that this would be
tho necessary result.
Confidence in President.
II believe l represent the real
opinion of the president in the mat
ter" he said later, that Is. II / were
able to see him and talk 1t over, be-
cause | know his mind.H
Sketching the history OF the strike
negotiations, DR.. Garfield explained
that he thought members of the cab
met were standing with him in his
suggestion of a IA per cent Increase
in wages and an advisory commission
to review the facts from which he de-
rived the IA per cent clause. When
this was refused. he added. he thought
that question was going to be fought
out"
nr, Garfield would not produce a
telegram sent him by Attorney Gem
eral Palmer, confirming that UNDER
standing for which he was asked.
Discussing proposals which he had
submitted to the cabinet. DR.. Gar
field said.
II had no power under the Lever
act to fix wages, but did have power
to fix prices and the determination
of reasonable prices involving finally
determination of reasonable wages,
| drew up a statement of principles
which I thought should govern tho
determination Of reasonable wages
and submitted that to the cabinet"
Labor Secretary Differed.
Were they with you on that state
ment?" Senator Frelinghuysen asked.
Yes, except as to the second of
the principles stated" Mr.. Garfield
responded. That was one which
said the average wage of workers in
the industry ought to be taken as a
guide in fixing increases allowed to
meet the cost of living and not the
wages of single group. Secretary
of Labor Wilson desired the Increases
so given to be estimated on the wages
of pick miners
What was your objection TO that?'-
Senator Townsend asked
"Basing the increase on the wage of
pick Miners" DR. Garfield. said,
would have resulted in securing an
average increase of 179 per cent in
wages in the industry over the period
since 1913, when the secretary of la
Dor conceded that the increase of cost
of living had been only 79 per cent"
Some members of the cabinet, DR..
Garfield said, supported him and
some the secretary of labor, but all
We're agreement on the balance of tho
proposal He had finally taken the
responsibility of putting through his
settlement suggestion without secur-
ing unanimous agreement of the
cabinet.
II conceived myself to be the re-
sponsibe officer" he said, "beieving
that | had authority 20 determine
price questions. The matter was not
presented to President Wilson"
Would Solve Problem.
Applying the principles laid down,
DR., Garfield said he decided that IL
per cent would meet the increased
cost of living and that operators could
pay it out of profits and still keep
enough mines running 10 supply the
nation with coal under the fixed price
of $235 ton. The miners decided to
refuse and continue the strike.
Il went home thinking the matter
was to be fought out" he said.
And after that proposals were
made in the government to take the
matter out of your hands, in spite of
your magnificent war record and the
way you were standing as bulwark
TO the public?" Senator Frelinghuysen
interjected.
II don't wish to go into the matter
of where and how the arrangement
was made" DR.. Garfield said.
But your proposals up to December
4. were the governments" Senator
Myers began. accepted by all parties
as the fact, and then some change was
made?'
Yes DR.. Garfield replied.
Under insistent question, Or. Gar
field said he had not talked with John
L. Lewis acting president of the mine
workers. and William Green. secre-
tary, on the flying visit made by
those officials to Washington week
aVo when fba st rtLa eatttau,ant xvaa