Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-11-19
STRIKING Miners
TOLD TO ARb|TRATE
AND GET TO WORK
DR.. GARFIELD ADDRESSES SEES.
SION OF UNION AND OPERA
TORS COMMITTEE, URGING SET.
ELEMENT OF PRESENT WALK.
OUT.
nBy the Associated Press. ,

tees or DltuminOus MI ierS and opera
tors In the centra competitive nett
went into executive session today to
negotiate a wage contract after fed
erai fuel administrator Garfield mad
urged upon them the necessity for ad.
justing their differences and prOduc-
ing the coal the country needs.
Speaking with the authority OF
President Wilson's cabinet, Fuel Ad-
ministrator GARFIELD told representa-
ives of the bituminous coal operators
and miners here today that the eople
Ct the United States need, must have
and will have coal and as long as the
government staEcs they will not be
prevented from getting il by AM
thing the operators or miners may do.
DR.. Garfield expressed regret that
the operators and miners had not es-
tablished a permanent body tG adiudi'
ate their disputes. Lacking that he
said, the question rcvolved around the
'ost of production.
During 1918 he said 81 300. 600
vas paid for b..uminous coal the
verage price being $22.dl per ton.
The production cost was s2.lo per
ton. the miners receiving $50. 800, 90
r an average OF 81 80 per ton. A to-
tai OF 1920 0, OoD went to the mine
wners. but rr. Garfield said this was
rot all profit, as federal income and
rycess profits had to be deducted,
In 1871" DR. Garfield said, the
take, amounted to SOC a ton average
over the whole country, but it Is dit
ficult to estimate for 1918. The taxes
in 1918 however to come out Of the
margins was somewhat less | believe.
than in 1917, but | will continue my
investigation to determine them &C
'uratply."
"Do you think the mine workers
honld give consideration to tae op-
orators because they have to pay
.axes?" asked John l.. Lewis, presi-
dent of the United Mine Workers OF
america
THE question is whether the CON
sumer should pay enough to pay the
excess profit tax and al the same time
i've the operators their norma! profit
90" replied Mr.. Garfield
IF the federal government took all
the profits by taxation. even that car
,umstance shoultt iih5t prevent the
miners from asking rea 'onable IN
,rease." said Mr. Lewis
well we must bear in mind that
the ever act guarantees reasonable
profit on the production Of fuel SAID
Dr. Garfield.
"Of course Congress Is responsible
| or all tax enactments.'
Contrasting mining with commercial
Enterprises. Or. Garfield said it was
necessary not to lose light OF the fac
hat coal mining was the basic INDUS
try TO the winning OF the war and that
'eas enable profits had to be maintain
ed 1t was because fair return was
uaranteed under ,ile Lever act that
congress could not TAI away all Of the
nine owners profits. he said
But the mine workers cannot be de-
tered from Commanding higher wages
md better condition; as a result OF the
ederal taX," Mr., Lewis replied,
THAT is the governments response
lility.'
Immediately after converting tn" OPP
orators AMI miners decided to continue
their negotiations through Sub-com-
nittee of eight from each side.
Government Warns Strikers.
Washington. Nov. 19.--Warning to
the miners and operators that the
government will not tolerate the con
tinued suspension of mining activity
II the bituminous fields was expected
ebay from fuel administrator Garfield
II the iofnt conference tOf the scale
committee The conference %called
or yesterday was postponed untll 10
! lay
Drastic steps are believed imnera-
i've in view of the rapid depletion OF
ne coal supply and the apparent dead
ock between miners and operators III
he negotiations tor a new wage
agreement Mr.. Garfield was prepared
o exercise his full powers as fuel ad
nintrtrator To bring coal production
Jack to normal and relieve the pubic
# the anxiety of facing the winter
without efficient fuel.
The course of action the government
viii pursue to enforce its demands mas
not been intimated.
Menace Is Increasing.
Chicago, Nov. 19.-The daily grow
ing menace of the coal situation was
me subject today of further discussion
bv Walker -. Hines, federal director
General of railroads and seven regional
| directors.
Possible action talked about IN
cluded further reduction in paSseh
ger train service and shutting off Goa
from non essential industries. Mr.
Hines indicated that he would issue
| a statement after the meeting resara
ing steps to be taken to conserve the
coal supply now available What we
will consider is what means can DC
employed by elimination of consump
ton except where ii is Indispensable
to conserve our coal reserve sald
Mr.. Hines.
You don't have to be railroad man
10 figure out that when you are con
suming more coal than Is produced
there is an end sometime
Meanwhile reports from virtually al
sources we're of vanishing supply o.
bituminous ccal as the approximately
i25. 900 miners remained firm in then
disposition to await announcement o.
an agreement by the apparently dead
locked miners-operators at Wash'ng
ton.
An immediate prospect OF declaI
alton Of martial law IN Iowa WIFI
state operation of mines. strike OF re
| emit '.