Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-11-26
Announce That Fuel Admins
traitor Advocates "A Fair and
Sound Basis for Settlement
OF Wage Controversy"
TAKE EXCEPTION TO
FIGURES OF WILSON
Cabinet Fails to Agree on
Plan to Settle Strike After
Days Session-To Resume
Deliberations Today.

Washington, Nov. 25.-The oper-
ators Of the central competitive
field tonight announced that they
were "in complete accord with the
principles stated by DR.. Garfield as
fair and sound basis for settle
ment of the present wage contro-
versy"
The comparative figures submits
ted by Secretary Wilson were char
acterized as misrepresentation and
misleading in that he left out Of
consideration all machine miners.
and all day laborers. Machine min
ers now constitute over 80 per cent
OF the miners employed in the CEN
trail territory, according to the
statement, and men not paid on a
tonnage basis comprise 10 per cent
of the total employees of the central
field.
Dr. Garheld's statement that "thc
average total increase in pay over
the 1918 base, which was the base
considered in 1917, should not ex-
coed the present average increase in /
the cost of living over the same
basis" was interpreted by the oper-
ators to mean that due weight
should be given the day laborers as
well as the men who mine the coal.
On this basis "the present wage
scale represents an average advance
,of So per cent over the scale III
effect in 1918" the statement said.
This average was computed from
the 49 per cent increase to machine
miners and the 76 per cent advance
to other employees. e.
Cabinet in Deadlock.
Like the miners and operators,
President Wilson's cabinet tonight
seemed hopelessly deadlocked on the
question of wage increase in the
bituminous coal industry.
After a six-hour session the cabi-
net, which took up the wage scale
agreement where operators and
miners left off last week, adjourned
until tomorrow when another at.
tempt, with the aid of Fuel Amin
istrator Garfield, will be made to
agree upon a pay Scale that will
satisfy the mine workers and owners
and the people in all sections Of the
country, who are clamoring for
normal production of coal.
The proper basis of calculating
the proposed wage advance, and thc
ratio of dividing the consequent in
crease in cost of production Of coal
between the operator and the public
are understood to have been the
points of difference among the cabi-
net members. DR.. Garfield, who
took a leading part in discussions,
took issue with Secretary of Labor
Wilson as to the method of apply
ing the figures accepted by both.
No Statement Made.
No statement was forthcoming
alter the meeting except an an
nouncement by DR.. Garfield that the
cabinet would meet again tomorrow
and that he would not see either the
miners or operators meanwhile.
He declined to say whether prog
ress had been made, but one meme
Der of the cabinet declared prospects
OF an agreement were mot hope
less"
Secretary Wilson's estimate that
the cost of living had increased 7o
per cent over 1914 was accepted, it
was understood, but difference of
opinion arose as to the application
of this and other fgurds in comput-
ing an increase i'll wages.
Secretary Glass said tonight that I
he might have some very inter-
esting figures tomorrow" emphasize
ing that they had keen compiled for
the public and not for the cabinet.
He declined to say whether they
were the income tax returns received
by the Treasury department on ex-
cess profits from the coal industry.
Discuss McAdoo Charge.
Significance was attached to this
announcement in view OF the fact
that the amount of profit made by
the coal companies during the last
two years and the percentage of in
crease in any possible wage advance
which the operators might be asked
to bear, have been the most bitterly
disputed points in the controversy.
The statements of former Secrc-
tary of the Treasury McAdoo,
charging that some of the coal con-
Germs made enormous profits DUR
ing his incumbency came in for dis
cussion at the cabinet meeting, it
was learned, but no one would say
what form the discussion took.
The Lever food control act was
not mentioned at the meeting. it was
said. Owing to the time consumed
on other matters, it was not be-
lieved the cabinet discussed methods
of enforcing its decision in case the
verdict should not be acceptable to
or mine owners.
Director General Hines attended
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