The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-11-27
were To refuse 10 accept this
figure II they were to be consider
ed enemies of society and out

| were 10 REFUSE 10 accept this
figure IL they were to be consider
ed enemies OF society and out
laws.
DIR, Garfield said that the gov
eminent had newer taken the po-
sition OF forcing men 10 work nut
that Ii would have to protect the
public in securing It's supply OF
coal and that that meant pro-
tecting the producer anA the men
who worked the mines.
Edward stewart. OF Indiana, and
Alexander Howatt. OF Kansas, both
miners. said the men in their terri
tory would never accept a 4 per cent
increase.
DR. Garf4eld's statement to the ope-
rators and miners follows:
"On the 74th inst. ! announced that
the public must not be asked to pay
more than II liz now paying for coal
unless is 10 necessary To do so in order
to provide reasonable wages 10 the
mine workers and a reasonable proht
to the operators. Careful investtga-
ton forces me to the conclusion that
In, accordance with this and the other
principles set forth on the gath inst
the public ought not to he required T.
pay any increase IN coal prices at this
time.
The prices fxed NY the government
or coal were calculated 70 increase
production for war purposes. Coal was
basic and the increase In production
was imperative The operators ar1
now in receipt Of margins which were
necessary TO effect that increase or
production. bat which are larger thar
are required under present conditions
II was estimated that the production
needed tor 1913 was 500. oSh Geo tons
tons
Applying the principles set forth IN
paragraph Of tire statement Of No
wember - when the average Increases
In wages since fals for the various
classes IF mine workers are deducted
from the increase in the cost ~ lfY-
ing since that time. we arrive AZ the
amount ~ additional increase IN wages
unsuitable AZ the present time
rvExs 1T UP.
sI have taken the figures Of the hu-
reau of labor statistics for both cost
Of living and for the weighted aver
age - wage increases according 1"
these figures the cost Of living has
risen TsS per cent since lais and
the amount necessary to bring the
average wages 81 mine workers up 70
this point AZ the present time Is -
per cent
HF&G JUSTIN EMS HFFfLeIpFt IN IS ~ =
since 1918 were such as 20 give GER
tain classes Of mine workers an aver
age increase IN excess Of thu Increase
in the cost OF living. and certain 9TH
ers an average increase below the IN
crea-e in the cost Of living. This form
Of adjustment was made in order 20
rrrabtfEh or preserve certain relative
nasea in the mining industry. 7 do
not think this condition. how ever,
xx4x tFaa
workers AS a whole and TN conRequc nee
Imposing upon the public. a total aver
age increase in excess Of the total
average Increase In the cost Of llV-
ing because " this course be adopted
the result would be that the total in
creased burden placed upon the min
ing industry win be far in excess ~
the Increased cost OF living
III this principle were applied in In
dustries generally, 1t is obvious that
the resulting cost would be passed
along 70 the general public ard the In
creased wages in raoid Soirat taking
as a minimum the percentage OF in
crease in the cost Of living, In the
long run this would add many new and
serious burdens to the cost Of living
Of the entire public and would fan
more in3uriousiy upon the working
classes than upon any others
Secretary of the Treasury Glass
Issued a statement tonight based on
reports OF the internal revenue ex-
perts saying that In 1917 ALI blum
nous coal miners east of the Misss-
sippi made what might be termed
fabulous profits" the general average
being from 100 to $50 per cent in
vested capital. the range being from
/ s TO 500 per cent
The statement shys that in 1918
the range was from 10 10 400 per
cent on invested capital in the Appa~
iachian and central competitive dis
triots
Unofficial figures for 1919. In
complete, indicate that the profits of
Fthe operators are less than they were
for 1918 some Of the operators claim
ing to have actually lost money" says
the statement 49,