Evening star., 1919-12-21
Presidents Letter
to Trio Chosen
Brings Denial.
PALMER ASSERTS
OWNERS AGREED
J. P. White, r. Peale,
III. M. Robinson Are
Investigators.

Investigators.
New difficulties IN the soft coal
situation developed late yesterday
when the appointment by President
Wilson of three commissioners to
fnvestigate wages and working con-
dit;ons in that industry was fol-
lowed Immediately by terse state
m.nt from the bitunlinous coal
operators, in which they fatty said
Trey had not been party to the
terms by which the strike was set
tied at Indianapolis two weeks ago
yesterday.
Attorney General Palmer about the
xazle tine issued a statement in which
he sz,id the operators had acce pied the
P-es.6ent.s plan and that lit would be
an amazing reputation of their own
staten ents if the operators do Snot
acouiesoe in the plan which their Of
Rcisi representatives have repeatedly
agreed to-
three ON Commisaion.
The commission named by the Presi-
dent in accordance with the terms OF
the strike settlement are Henry M
Robinson. Pasadena. Calf, represent
Ing the public: Joni, - "---t; -,
Iowa, representing the miners, ana
Rembrandt Peale Of Pennsylvania.
identical letter to each of these ap-
pointees the President sets forth in
detail the Developments in the sort
coal sitUstfon since the organization
OF the United States Fuel Administra-
ton and says he will call a meeting
OF the commission in Washington as
soon as their acceptances are received.
An assertion hy the President that
ne had been Informed that the op-
orators have generally agreed to the
plan" outlined in the settlement OF
December. 6 brought the denial from
tie operators In the form of an official
statement from the executive COM
mittee of the Bstuminous Coal Op-
orators Association rs follows:
0persters' stafemeal-
sfne operators have lot agreed to
afr faenaofan6um such as that mem
ti6i3eG Ia the Presidents letter to
Ae4srA Robinson, White and Peale,
involving . basis 6f adjustment Of the
OA strike
1dS OpcsAIOfS were HUI CoLSuitcU
"a to- the, term and conditions of the
ASfeement entered into between the
Governmeht and the miners
statenentp Follew Pariey.
she Presidents announcement and
"a statements from the operators and
ttsA Akffofney General which came on
IL heels followed a day of conference
between Mr.. Palmer and representn-
ifE9 Of the mine owners and also a
injecting OF the Operators executive
cammiftee.
No oHcial word came from either
eide as TO the nature Of these dis
asassions, however. although IL was
Apparent that the Presidents an
nOoHcement was expected at the
white House to be issued any moment
and no reason for the delay was dis
In some quarters to show that Mr.
Palmer had been endeavorins to in
6uce the operators to join fully in the
governments planA
Mr. Palmer's Denfal
II. Palmer's statement was prompt
q originally. apparently, by press
FOports Of statements made Friday
before the, Senate coal investigating
commtttee by Alfred n Ogle, chair
fxf1u Of the operators executive COM
Inittee. 1t was issued in advance of
The brief declaration of the opera
&nF3 committee last night that the
0pefstors had not agreed to the pro-
poARie which ended the coal strike
Ar. Palmer hatly contradicted state
fasnts attributed, to Ogle and cited
et1taments by Thomas T Brewster.
cAAiEnaAn Of the operators scale COM
wtttse at St Louis. approving the
bIan Of settlement which prevailed
e isi,anapolis to show that it had
tQau accepted by the operators.
There vas indication last night that
0lo controversy as to the operators
attitude would be further aired: but
Ulant by the executive committee had
6oEn issued in reply to Mr.. Palmer &
RaQeYtiona nor had the members OF
th6 committee or counsel anything
- add for publication
R1esiAent States Object.
IN his letter to the commissioners
President Wilson said no settlement
Cauld DO had on the coal question
s-permanent and lasting in it's bene-
dtaI - affecting teither the miners
the coal operators or the general pub
he, unless the findings of this body
eee comprehensive in their character
AAA embrace and guard at every point
eAe public interest" He said he
deemed It important that the COM
sufasfou's conclusion should be unan-
faoue, and that If a re3djustment OF
eAal prices should be found necessar,
he would transfer to the commission
Cubtect to its unanimous action tn.
powers heretofore vested in the fue
ADMINISTRATION
All three members of the commits
eion are more or less familiar will
the work confronting them. MIR. Rol.
tason having served with the ship
ping board during the war, and Mr.
White and Mr.. Peale having been ad
S1ssrs to Fuel Administrator Garfield
Text Of Prestdent's Letter.
The text Of the Presidents lette,
tA Mr.. Robinson. identical with thos,
cent to Mr.. White and MIR. PeaIe, fol
my Dear Mr. Robinson:
1-Ou October 6. 1917. with the officia
approyal and sanction of the Unitet
states Fuel Administration. an agree
Snent (since known as the Washing
ton wage agreemento was entere,
fnto between the operators and tn,
1niou miners and mine workers Of tn
ao-ca1led central competitive hitumi
sous coal neIds,' composed Of westerl
Pennsylvania. Ohio, Indiana and Iii
aeia, which provided for an increas
81 the production of bituminous Goa
and an increase in wages u tn
asinexs and mine workers from TIL
then existing scale of compensation
Che agreement contained the follow
sus clause:
Subject to the next biennial ccnven
sion Of the United Mine Workers o
America, the mine workers representa-