Norwich bulletin., 1919-11-27

Washington, Nov. 96.-A wage ad vance of 14 per cent for all mine workers, maintenance of government control over coal prices, and no in- crease in prices at this time, were the conclusions Of Fuel Administrator Garfield. announced tonight to the op- crators and mine wage scale commit tees.
 Declaring that Secretary Wilson, acting as the authorized agent of the cabinet and of President Wilson" had offered an increase of S1 610 per cent. John l.. Lewis, acting president Of the United Mine Workers, asked if Inc government intended to 'repudiate lie acts of Secretary Wilson"
 Dr. Garfield replied that Mir. Wilson 2iade his proposal as 8 mediator to facilitate negotiations. and, that Mir. wilson told him today it was the duty 9t the fuel administrator to fix prices, and that it was not the function of he secretary of labor.
 "-,he cabinet has decided that the s4sis l have suggested is sound and sght." Dr. Garfield said.
 D-. Garfield declared that the min ,-s ;thout the proposed increase of t& rer cent. were better off than other .,aascs Of employment. A permanent pods, with purely advisory powers, consisting of the secretary of the in ,trior as chairman and of an equal number of representatives Of opera tors and mine workers was recom- -ended by Dr. Garfield.
 Th;s board would continue to apply .le principles announced by the fuel administrator to unsettled questions, wages and profits and living condi- tons.
 Dr. Garfield said at the meeting that the lowest wages paid to miners was si.15 a day and that working 200 days year the minimum average annual return amounted to Ss50. This sum, he added. 'fs little higher than wages in other employment and this is without considering the fourteen per cent increase"
 William Green. secretary of the United Mine Workers, asked if s950 was sufficient 10 maintain American standards Of living.
 That depends on circumstances, said Dr. Garfield. There are very few who get more than ss0 a month. won't admit that a decent American standard isn't permitted"
 In She midst of 8 sharp crossfire of luetions, Frank Harrington. president of the Illinois district of United Mine Workers. asked Dr. Garfield if the miners would be regarded as out laws" fl they did not return to work. The government never has attempt ed to compel men to work against their will. but every protection will be offered miners willing to return to the mines. Dr. Garfield replied.
 Harrington replied that he did not think this would be necessary fol miners in Illinois, as he did not be- Meve there were any in th1t state who would care 10 return under the new wage conditions.
 Says Miners Will Not Accept.
 John L. Lewis, acting president ot the United Mine Workers of America declared when the meeting with Dr Garfield broke up that the miners Uifl not accept . fourteen per cent Increase
 A number Of miners attempted tC leer the new wage scale. Alexander Howat. president of the Kansas min srs' organization, characterized 1t a: an insult and said: We are ready to go home and fight it out"
 When the joint conference with Dr Garfield adjourned late tonight thu suB-scaie committees of mine-s ana operators went into executive session to discuss the governments state
 
 inc miners would not accept just al ho started into the meeting.
 The sub-scsN, committe. after a fiv minute session, adjourN d to meet to morrow 10 give further consideration n the new wage affer.
 William Green. secretary of tn United Mine Workers, declared to MOTION would see the end of all ne gotiations as the operators are op posed to granting any increase an' the miners cannot proceed on the fig ureE given by Dr. Garfield" Many O the miners said they agreed with Al exander Howat. president of the Kan sas miners, who announced that 'i we are unable to receive a wage her hat will guarantee us a decent liv ing ss5 days in the year. we will g aonne and fight for while"
 Dr. Garfield's statement to the join conference of miners and operator loiiows:
 Or. Garfeld's Statement.
 con the 24th inst I announced tha Inc public must not be asked to pa more than t is now paying for coa unless it is necessary to do so j s-dsr to provide reasonable wages fo Inc mine workers and 0 reasonabl profit Co the operators. Careful in VestlEation forces me to the conclu sion that, in accordance with this an other principles set forth on the 24t Inst, the public ought not to be rc suired 10 pay any increase in co; prices at this time.
 The prices fixed by the governmer on coal were calculated to increas production for war purposes. Coal wa basic and the increase in productio was imperative. The operators al now in receipt Of margins which wei necessary to effect that increase production, but which are larger tha arc required under present condition L. was estimated that the productic needed for 1918 was 6oo, 900, 900 ton The estimate for 1919 is 500,00o, ,0t tons.
 Applying the principles set forth Paragraph Two of the statement November 24. when the average ir crcases in wages since 1913 for Il various classes of mine workers al deducted from the increase in the co of living since that time, we arri, at the amount of additional increa, in wages justihable at the presei time.
 Figures Basis of Decision.
 have taken the figures of tn Bureau of Labor Statistics for bol cost of living and for the weight, average of wage increases. Accort inx to these figures the cost of 1i-