Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-11-20
COAL DEADLOCK
MAY END TODAY
Conference Awaits Operators
Proposai--South Placed on
Wartime Ration Basis
MAY DROP MORE TRAINS
By the Associated Press

Washington, Nov. 20.-Resuming
negotiations today with view to
settling n wage scale in the cen
tral competitive coal field, operators
and mine workers were hopeful OF
making progress. Committees yester-
day got down to actual work after
hearing the views of Fuel Admins
traitor Harry A. Garfield, and though
the production of coal remained at a
standstill in the states of Illinois In
diana, Ohio and part of Pennsylvania
adjustment of disputed points was not
considered impossible.
The scale committee of the operators
remained late in session last night after
acting President John L. Lewis, of the
mine workers, left its session with his
party. Today observers looked for
operators to present their counter pro
posal TO the miners, who have so far
stood pat on their demand for 60
per cent wage increase and Il thirty
Z hour working week
Chicago. Nov. 20.-(By A. P.)
Regional directors of railroads to-
day had free hand in dealing
with curtailmcnt of nonesscntial
industries and unnecessary pas
senger traffic. and extraordinary efforts
TO conserve and distribute the nation 8
steadily diminishing coal supply we're
being made. Under that authority
granted by Walker d. Hines, federal
director general of railroads, after n
two day conference with the seven re-
gional directors, the entire South, east
of the Mississippi and south of the
Ohio rivers, except for a small area in
the POcahontas region, today had been
placed on wartime ration basis and
annulment of trains in addition to the
146 already taken eff, was under con-
sideration
Other drastic action looking toward
reserving the available supply for es-
sential industries, public utilities and
domestic consumers included stopping
deliveries to all nonessental industries
in Cleveland and deliveries in Omaha,
Neb, only on written application ap-
proved by the local coal committee.
In Colorado strike of miners who
had returned to work was called for
Friday because of alleged discrimination
agninst union men.
Bismarck, n. D., Nov. 20.-(By A.
P.)--The controversy over the Ignite
coal mines of North Dakota which Gov
ernor Lynn j. Frazier recently took
over in the name of the state. it ap-
peared today would be taken to the state
Supreme Court for settlement.
Governor Frazicr's action was sharp
ly criticized yesterday by district Judge
w. L. Nuessle, who issued an order
requiring state officials to return by
Monday afternoon to the Washburn
Ignite Co. the mining properties of
that company at Wilton. Other min
ing companies in the state demand the
immediate return of their properties
The case brought by the Washburn Co.
is considered test, and it was tx
pected that an appeal from Judge
Nuesse's decision would he certified TO
x the Supreme Court today.
Charleston, w. Va, Nov. 20.-(By
A. P.)-More than a score of mines in
the New River coal field were today
4 added to the number closed yesterday
4 when miners walked out in protest
&against what they termed the "abro =
pgation of the wage contract" by the
operators. Virtually all mines in that
district are shut down, according to
reports which reached here from Beck =
ley, the center of the field.