New-York tribune., 1919-12-07
No Compromise Possible
That Means More Cost
to Public, He Declares; {;
Cabinet Supports Him
Profteering in Oil
In West Is Charged
vanceFrom$lto$4.5O so
a Barrel Since Strike
Was Called Is Alleged

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-The coal
strike cannot be compromised with the
consent of the Federal government in
any fashion that will mean an advance
in the price of coal to the public, Fuel
Administrator Garfield declared to-
night.
Declaring himself "sick and tired of
proposals to make the people bear ad-
ditional burdens" DR.. Garfield said the
fuel administration alone had author
ity to increase coal prices necessary
to pay wage advances in excess Of the
ID per cent proposed by the govern
ment So long as he was fuel ad-
ministrator, he said no advance in the
price to the consumer for this purpose
would be permitted.
"The Cabinet stands back of me on
the principle involved" Dr. Garfield
said, although l am responsible for
the presentation of the facts which
moved their decision"
Compromise Ideas Opposed
The fuel administration statement
was made after a day passed in hear
ing compromise proposals from delega-
tions of business men and others from
various parts of the country Using
the most emphatic language, DR.. Gar
field left no doubt that he regarded
compromise proposals as monkey
wrench" thrown into machinery, which
he believes will operate no adjpst the
situation with justice both to the pub
lie and the mine workers.
The position of the government is
that no wage advance in excess of
ID per cent is possible under the price
of S2.35 ton, mine run, fixed on coal
by the fuel administrator. At the
same time it was stated the govern
ment had no authority to fix wages
and no objection could be interposed
if operators favorably situated agreed
to pay more than the IA per cent ad-
vance from their own profit without
charging the increase to the public
1t is not the opinion in the fuel ad-
ministration, however, that enough
mines to supply the country with coal
can be operated on this basis.
Objections To Be Ironed Out
Discussing restrictions imposed in
the use of COAL DR.. Garfield said to.
night that local differences in the
severity of the application of the cur
tailment orders soon would disappea.
under measures being taken by the
railroad administration, which is act.
ing as the fuel administrators agent
in distributing coal. He said further
that production of coal had increased
every day this week, and indicated his
belief that majority of miners sooner
or later would accept the settlement
basis which the union leaders have
| rejected.
Another step was taken to-day by
| the fuel administration to restrict Goa
consumption by resuming the fixed
prices on coke established during the
war period. Distribution of coke also
will be regulated. Gas coke, however
will not be affected.
While DR.. Gafeld was comforting
with delegations and receiving numer
| Gus kilograms suggesting a compro-
mise in the strike situation, Attorney
General Palmer conferred with Presi
dent Wilson on the general coal situa-
tion and took steps to prosecute oil
| producers in the West who are charged
in complaint made by Senator Cappcr
Of Kansas, with increasing the price
of oil from 81 to $3.50 barrel since
Embargo on Oil Ordered
At the same time the railroad ad-
ministration announced an embargo or
oil, effective Monday, which is de-
! signed to make available a full supply
for industries in the West and thus
make it necessary to haul less opal te
that section from the East. FACTORIES
in the East using oil may obtain theil
| otaf 1
system and shipments in transit or or
order will not be affected.
Reports on coal production served
to increase the optimism If officials
handling the fuel situation. Addi
tional mines were said 20 be in opera
tion now and production was steadily
increasing, although it continued les:
than half of normal.
Figures made public by the Geolog
+ ical Survey showed that despite thu
Thanksgiving Day lay-off miners re
naming at work since the strike begar
produced $4,000 tons during the weel
ended November 20. This was about al
per cent of normal and ! per cen
greater than the output the week be
fore, when the men worked the full 81,
days.
Total production from the beginnin.
OF the strike on November / to the ent
of November was placed at 1885, ,0O'
tons, compared with 56,270,000 tons il
October, or about 3311 per cent Th
October production, however, wa
greater than the average, as the mine
were operated at full time throughou
the week preceding, the strike whel
coal cars were rushed to the mine
as rapidly as possible.
Charges of the American Wholesal