Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-11-25
GARFIELD OPPOSES
FURTHER INCREASE
IN PRICE OF COAL
Fuel Administrator Makes
Statement of Principles to
Govern Settlement.
SAYS MINERS PAY ADJUSTED
TO MEET CONDITIONS IN 1917
Must Consider Advances Then
Granted in Ascertaining Fur
ther Raise in Pay.
FEAR EFFECT ON LIVING COST
Several Cabinet Members Said to Dc
Apprchcnsivc OF Industrial Re-
action From Price Change.
FEAR EFFECT ON LIVING COST
several Cabinet Members Said to Dc
Apprehcnsivc OF Industrial Re-
action From Price Change.
iBy Associated Press


'i the controversy over a new wage
iSTeemcnt in bituyninous coal industry
tonight awaited action by Prcsidcn,
Wilson's Cabinet,
At the meeting OF the Cabinc. to-
morrow d definite decision OF polic,.
reSardinE all phases OF the strike si,u
alton is expected. and IL the Cabinc, Is
IN d!aa srccmcnt the whole oucsttor
may be put before the President.
fuci administrator Garfield speak
!nS TO the Joint waga-scalc committees
I'VE principles which have ..Eovcrned''
nim and his associates, but different
.hterpretat!ons were placed upon it's
various provisions hy the workers and
slons after the meeting
Dr. Garfield called the miners and
Isfence with -\ttorney-GcneraI Palmer.
Direct Hines and Assistant
At;orncy-Ccneral Amcs
DIR. GarhcId's Principles.
owing to the disagreement which has
risen as TO the amount Of the in
sepuently. the per cont of wage adj
vance necdcd to moet higher living
costs, Sreat Significance WAS attached
70 III. GarhcldS declaration that tho
average total increase in pay ovcr the
1918 base. which was the base consjd
ered in 1917. shonid not exceed the
over the same base"
IT Is also 10 be considered that the
cost or living Will fall. rather than
added.
opcrat>,s construed this statement
as in conflict with the contention OF
Secretary Wilson that miners should
be given 81 per cent wage advance
TO eGuaiizc the margin between pres
cnt wages and 20 per cent rise in liy
ing cost since 1914.
Price Made TO Stimulate Production
Pointing out that wartime coal
prices were fixed for the purpose of
stimulating production. Or. Garficld de-
ciared that the public would not now
pay the increase over normal profits
ailowed during the war Ills fur,he?
should nc "bornc b. the operators or
tho public or both" was generally
aiken to mean that part OF the ad-
PROFITS OF the mining compa7rfs.
The five principles announced bv Dr..
Garfield were:
I. The public must not be asked to
ray more than it is now paying Tor coal
unless 1t is necessary 10 do so in or
der to provide reasonable wages to the
mine workers and reasonable profit
10 the operators.
:. The arrangement entered into be-
iwnen the operators, the mine workers
and the fuel administration. with ~.
sanction OF the President of tho United
states In October. 1917, was intended
TO equalze the wages OF ALI c,asscs nj
mine workers and TO he sufficient To
cover the period OF the war but MOI
beyond March 81, 1920: hence. the only
increase in cost OF living which can
now be considered is the increase above
that provided for by the average in
rease in 1917; that is to say. the aver
age total Increase in pay over the 1913
base, which was the base considered in
l?l7, should not exceed the present
average increase in the cost Of living
over the same base. II is also 10 he
considered that the cost Of living will
fall rather than rise during the next
few years.
Ought Not to eB Asked to Pay More.
%. The amHimum prices fixed by the
EoVernemn on coal were calculated TO
increase production of coal for war
purposes. Coal was basic and the in
crease imperative. Tie public ought
not to be asked to pay. and will not ,
now pay. the increase over normal
profits than allowed for the purpose of
stimulating production.
foregoing principles should be borne
ny the operators or the public or BOTH
tn tion nay ~ pG .hs aetermined by the applica.
take effect as of the date when the
men return to work.
s,,3ns ti.tnnIhe Ne ne, needs Of the United
Europe Is In desperate need Of coal and |
should have all that we can snare"
Thomas T. Brewster, chairman Of tho |
operators. said that DR.. Garficid.s pro-
nouncement merely rcaffrmed The |
statement og the fuel admjnistrator
before the wage scale committees last
week ~
9. Doesn't Know Its Meaning.
do not know what IL ali means"
was the only comment of John 7 ~
is. ACTING president OF the UniteI Mine
When the coal situation comes heroro
the Cabinet tomorrow, sharp difrercnce
of opinion between some members bhis &c
expected. Representatives Of tba on1 10
orators have made the claim repcat.dpfv
that the proposal Of Secretary Wilsnyy
for wage advance of 81 per cent 5,iI
not have the approval of a maioritv - |
the Cabinet, but II was admitted fbot
Mr.. Wilson would have the support of !
some who were willing to give tie min 0l
crS whatever they asked in order 10 |
get them back to work "
Other Cabinet members II was said |
feared the erect big wage advance !
might have on. the efforts OF the gov |
ernmsnt to reduce. the. cost of living. |
Granting OF the miners request woiiiG |
strengthen the demands Of railroad nn,-
ployees and other workers for more
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