The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-11-26
NO STATEMENT MADE

No statement was forthcoming aft CT the meeting except an announcement by Dr. Garfield that the cabinet would meet again tomorrow and that he would not see either the miners or operators meanwhile. He declined to say whether progress had been made, but one mem Der of the cabinet declared prospects of an agreement were mot hopeless"
 Secretary Wilson's estimate that the cost of living had increased 79 per cent over 1914 was accepted. it was under stood, but difference of opinion arose as to the application of this and other figures in computing an increase in wages.
 Secretary Glass said tonight that he might have some very interesting fig ures" tomorrow, emphasizing that they had been compiled for the public. and not for the cabinet. He declined to say whether they were the income tax re- turns received by the treasury depart ment on excess profits from the coal industries.
 Significance was attached to this
 announcement in view of the fact
 thnt the amount of profit made by
 the coal companies during the last
 two years and the percentage of
 increase in any possible wage ad-
 
 asked to bear. have been the most
 bitterly disputed points in the con-
 troversy.
 The statements of former Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo charging that some coal concerns made enormous profits during his 'incumbency came in for discussion at the cabinet meeting, it was learned. but no one would say what form the discussion took. < LEVER ACT NOT DISCUSSED
 The Lever food control act was not mentioned at the meeting. it was said. Owing to the time consumed on other matters it was not believed that the cabinet discussed methods of enforcing it's decision in case the verdict should not be acceptable to workers or mine owners.
 Director General Hines attended the session, but declined to say what took place
 Before the meeting this morning
 Attorney General Palmer said that
 if the figures as to operators prof
 it's given yesterday by MT. McAdoo
 were correct. it was not likely pr.
 Garfield would permit an increased
 price for conl.
 In statement bearing on this is- sue the operators said that conditions in 1917 were abnormal" but that as Mir. McAdoo was ignorant" of condi- tions in 1918 and 1919 his message "carries no weight and requires no answer" The operators said they welcomed an fnyestigation of current tax returns. and that they had been urging a board of arbitration or tribunal of investi-. gation. but that the miners refused to agree to 1t.
 SCALE. COMMITTEE MEETS
 The scale committee held a perfume tory meeting today, at which Dr. Gar fields statement of principles was dis cussed. Pending word from the cabi- net. adjournment was taken until to- morrow.
 Neither operators nor miners were hopeful tonight of a settlement before next week. While the subscale commit ice plans to remain in session, adjourn ing from day to day, many operators have arranged to spend Thanksgiving Day at their homes.
 Charging that Secretary McAdoo had been "studiously malicious" George H. Cushing, managing director of the American Wholesale Coal association, in a statement tonight. explained that the 200 per cent profit of which the former Secretary complained was not figured on either volume of business or capital stock This percentage. he said. was made in the case of abandoned mines worked on a cooperative basis. where
 (Continued er r.Ee Twe)