Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-12-17
NV Associ,,ca press.1

BY Associated PreSsl
! WASHINGTON. Dec. l6.-Thc Senate
coal inycstiGatiug committee, rcsum-
I Ing today It's inquiry into the admin
( iS;ration's strike settlement agree
( ment. was told by, Tracy W. Guthrie,
! president OF tho lIiliman Coal and
Coke Company, that one clause in the
proposition advanced by President
Wilson, and accepted by the miners,
would bring about an increase l.,
the miners wages At least doubling
the II per cent which> DIR. Harry y.
Garfield. ,restsnca. fuel administrator.
Thought Justified
While the Senate committee was
pursuing its inquiry. the railroad adj
ministration withdrew the last SEM
hlanccs Of the restrictions on fuel re-
su!tinG from the strike. and began
delivering coal to original consiSnces
instead OF distributing 1t to points OF
greatest need.
|; rescinded the embargo on the
movement of fuel oil out of the West.
ana the orders reducing the amount
OF coal permitted TO go to coliin.
ovens.
Won't Appoint Commission Now.
\; the White House today II was
Said thar President Wilson would not
.ppoint the commission provided in
Attorncy-Gcneral Palmer returns from
ihs West late this week.
The senatorial inquiry was reopcncd
With the calling OF L. V, Norris, en-
who was conducted by senator FIRE.
linshuysen, Republicans, OF New Jcr-
sly chairman OF the committee, and
Michigan. through maze OF statistics
bearing on labor costs and prices OF
necessities.
posed that ths- miners be given an
increase of 3i.6' per cent. Mr.. Norris
explained because he based his CAL
e9! IN !he w Pay given nek min mn
wages were reudjusted, The pick min
crs. were getting the greatest amount,
and ne scales were balanced UP by
giving them lesser Increase than
other classes OF labor around the
mines. This was necessary in order
10 induce men 20 do the other work
Took Average WnSc of All.
DR.. Garfield decided that = par
i.cniac wage group ought not To serve
Now as basis FOR calculation. and
iooi me average wage OF all work
that an addition OF II per cent TO their
earnings would compensate them for
the cost OF living since the last ad-
JrStments were made"
Chairman Frclinghuyscn asked If
the witness approved OF the creation
a! commission composed OF one
m!hcr ono mine operator, and one rep
rcssnia;ivc of the public, with power
10 IN wages and prices.
That would depend on the make
aap o. ne individnais." Norris returned.
ought TO be named. II gives two in
tnrests chance TO combine against
the third"
Mr., Guthrie was called TO present
artna! iactS tHom pay rolls upon
30 Per Cent Idle All Time.
Anout 20 per cent OF miners arc idle
al TN. time. according TO our expert
vi t,r
told the committee THAT is. We have
10 have l2o names on the pay roll in
ns Fac fa5dT GO MIN neqs R ks % cs as
brat} all American holidays and a lot
: az; t a,.Y ones. Then they, have
Tho, late John Mitchell They have
Rabbit Day on November 10 when
Everybody adjourns TO shoot a rab-
From mine accounts he read the
record OF one miner, wto in ISL days
o. me present Year earned 5000. or
g a ten, &C. Of S!@;So per DAY Hs paid
NC pe'iod, and his fuel bill was S5
otnef records furnished showed earn
i ;Mags DUNG he nrst nine months OF
p!ck and machine miners
~ S SCI to. Woico,I Democrat. OF Della
Wa ,a Grew Out Mr. Guthrie's view OF
wages involved IN the settlement nv
observing that DR.. Garne!d's proposal
vas The same "a that put forth bv
Tho President. ~
10 settle "Intcrnal DiTerenccs..
AS / read the memorandum given
Sut nE Attorney General Palmer" Ny
Guthrie replied, 1T is proposed "a sni
up commission with power 10 tx
wage scales md coal prices One OF
me 'hInSs this commission is to do is
10 go back TO the mine districts 40
::'ltie what are known as internal diff
t!ais. u"
All previous agreements between
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