Omaha daily bee., 1919-12-14
Principles Underlying VIII
sons Plan for Settlement OF
Coal Strike Fundamentally
Wrong" Fuel Head Asserts.
WITHHOLDS ANSWERS TO
CONFIDENTIAL MATTERS
Discusses With Some Free
dom, However, "CIeavage in
Cabinet" But Refuses Copy
Of Letter of Resignation.

'
underlying President Wilson's plan
for the-settlcment of the coal strike,
accepted by the miners, are "funda-
mentally wrong as matter of gov
crnment," DR.. Harry A. Garfield,
federal fuel administrator until to-
Cay, told a hastily assembled sub
committee of the senate tonight. His
resignation sent to President Will
son because of his views was ac-
cepted today 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 Freling-
huysen, republican, New Jersey,
chairman 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 Townsend, republl-
can, Michigan, and Senator Myers,
democrat joined the chairman ~
urging replies and refused to furnish
, copy Of his letter of resignation,
which he indicated had explained his
views to the president.
Frelinghuysen Later.
Senator Frelinghuysen intlmated
that Attorney General Palmer and
other officials connected with :he
strike settlement would be called
later!
"My objection" Mr.. Garfield said
Of the settlement plan, goes to rhe
point that the commission which !
will be set up to decide
wages and prices is composed OF
three members, one to be a psiner
another to be a coal mine operator
and the third to represent the pub
lie. Under it the public, which is
the chief party at interest, would
be in the minority"
"Has it been your expel ence with
the coal industry that employees
and employers might have a COM
mon interest in increasing wages
and costs and passing that increase
on the public in prices" Senator
Townsend asked.
"They may have that common in
terest." Mr.. Garfield responded,
qualifying his answer by saying that
he was not charging that this would
be the necessary result. i
81 believe | represent the real
r cpinion of the president in the mat
ter" he said later, shat is, if were
able to see him and talk it over,
because | know his mind
Wouldn't Produce Telegram.
Sketching the history of the strike
negotiations, DR.. Garfield explained
that he thought members OF the
cabinet 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 derived the IA per cent
clause. When this was refused, ne
added, he thought the question was
going to be fought out
DIR. Garfield would not produce
a telegram sent him by Attorney
General Palmer, confirming that
for which he was
asked.
Discussing proposals which he
had submitted to the cabinet. DR..
Garfield said:
II had no power under the Lever
act to fix wages, but did have power
to fix prices and the determination
or reasonable prices involving I'm
ally determination of reasonable
wages. / drew up statement OF
reasonable wages and submitted
that to the cabinet"
"Were they with you on that
sta tement" Senator Frelinghuysen
asked. /
Eyes, 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 guide in fixing increases al
lowed to meet the cost of living
and not the wages of single group.
Secretary of Labor Wilson desired
the increases so given to be esti-
mated on the wages Of the pick
'What was your objection to
that?" Senator Townsend asked.
Didn't Wait on Cabinet.
"Basing the increase on the wage
of pick miners" DR.. Garfield said,
would have resulted in securing
an average increase of 17o per cent
in wages in the industry over the |
CONTINUED on Page 8-A, Column 81