Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-12-02
MINE WAGE MUST
NOT GOUGE PUBLIC
Fuel Administration Lays Down
Principles to Coal Men.
CABINET WILL TAKE ACTION
Government to Force Agreement Be-
tween Operators and Miners IN
stead of Selling Pits-Europe
Must Also Be Considered.

Washington, Nov. 25.-The cabinet
will take action to bring to an end the
negotiations between the coal opera
tors and the miners which have been
dragging on for IL days without re-
suit.
This became definitely known when
DR.. Harry A. Garfield, United States
fuel administrator, called the opera
tors and the miners together and laid
down certain principles which he said
were governing him and his associates
in reckoning wage increases and
prices in the coal industry.
Doctor Garfield said that the prin-
ciples, which were unaccompanied by
any figures, should likewise govern
the operators and the miners in reach
ing an agreement. He told them that
after the cabinet meeting they would
be given something more definite.
This means that the government
through the cabinet is ready to tell the
miners and the operators just how
much of an increase Ia wages the con-
Stunning public will stand, and that hav-
Ing done this, the operators and the
miners will be expected to reach an
agreement without further delay, so
that normal production of coal may
be resumed.
Doctor Garfield called the operators
together after having spent the greater
part of the day in conference with At
tOrney General Palmer and Director
General of Railroads Hines, going over
the situation His principles are taken
to be virtually those of the majority
of the cabinet
Must Not Raise Price.
Doctor Garfield told the operators
and the miners that the public must
not be asked to pay more for coal than
necessary to provide reasonable wages
and reasonable profits. He reinforced
this by declaring that the public will
not pay the increase over normal
profits allowed during the war for the
purpose of stimulating production.
He injected d new principle into the
conference that the needs of the
United States were not only to be con-
sidered but also those of Europe. Here
is Doctor Garfield's announcement of
principles:
81. The public must not be asked
TO nav more than it is now paying
for coal unless it is necessary to do
so in order TO provide reasonable
wages to the mine workers, and a rea-
sonable profit to the operators.
''2. The arrangement entered into
between the operators, the mine work
ers and the fuel administrator with
the sanction of the president of the
United States in October, 1917, was
intended to eqUaliZe the wages Of all
classes of mine workers and to be suf
ficient to cover the period of the war,
but not beyond March 81, 1920; hence
the only increase in cost of living
which can now be considered is the
increase above that provided for by
the average increase in 1917; that is
to say, the average total 9ncr@ase in
pay over the 1913 base, which was the
base considered in 1917, should not ex-
coed the present average increase in
the cost of living over the same base.
1t is also to be considered that the
cost of living will fall rather than rise
during the next few years.
Explains 1917 Increase.
So The maximum prices fixed by
the government on coal in 1917 were
calculated to increase production of
coal for war purposes. Coal was basic
and the increase imperative. The pub
lie ought not to be asked TO pay and
will not now pay the increase over
normal profits then allowed for the
purpose of stimulating production.
II. Any increases in wages now ar
rived at on the basis of the foregoing
principles should be borne by the OPP
orators or the public or both as may
be determined by the application of
these principles and should take eff
feet as of the date when the men re-
turn to work.
80. The needs of the United States
are not alone to be considered; Eu-
rope is in desperate need of coal and
should have all we can spare"
Following Doctor Garfield's an
nouncement an adjournment of the
Joint conference was taken immediate
ly. The operators then went into
executive session. The miners said
they did not expect to meet again I'M
til morning.