Norwich bulletin., 1919-12-17
Investigating Goal
 Strike Settlement

Strike Settlement Hearing by Senate Committee
 Restrictions on Fuel Re-
 sulting From Strike Are Re
 scinded.
 Washington, Dec. 1s.-The senate coal investigating committee, resum- ing it's inquiry into the administration strike settlement agreement, was told by Tracy W. Guthrie, president of the Hillman Coal and Coke Company, that one clause in the proposition ad- vanced by President Wilson, and ac- cepted by the miners, would bring about an increase in the miners wage at least double the 14 per cent, which Dr. Harry A. Garfield, resigned fuel | administrator, thought justified. l While the senate committee was pursuing its inquiry. the railroad ad- ministration withdrew the last sem blances of the restrictions on fuel re- Sulting from the strike and delivering j coal to original consignees instead of 1 distributing it to points of greatest need. It rescinded the embargo on
 the movement of fuel oil out of the west and the orders reducing the amount Of coal permitted to go to cok- ing ovens. l At the White House today it was
 said that President Wilson would not appoint the commission provided ir
 the strike settlement proposal until Attorney General Palmer returns from | the west late this week
 The senatorial inquiry was reOpened with the calling of R. V. Norris, engi-
 neer for the fuel administration, who
 was conducted by Senator F'reling- huysen, republican, New Jersey, chairman of the committee, and Sena-
 tor Townsend, republican, Michigan through a maze of statistics bearing on labor costs and prices of neceSsi-
 ties.
 Secretary of Labor Wilson pro- posed that the miners be given an in
 crease of 31.6! per cent" MT. Norris
 explained, "because he based his call .culations on the pay given pick min
 CTS. In 1917, when wages were read
 justed, the pick miners were getting
 the greatest amount, and the scales
 balanced up by giving them lesser
 increase than other classes of labor
 around the mines. This was neces-
 SdIy III OTNGl u luQuC6 HIGH to UO the
 other work
 Dr. Garfield decided a particular
 wage group ought not to serve as a
 basis for calculation, and took the
 averag ge wage of all workers. After
 having arrived at that he found that
 an addition of IA per cent. to their
 earnings would compensate them fol
 the cost of living since the last adjust ments were made.'
 Chairman F'relinghuysen asked i the witness approved of the creatio } of commission composed Of one miner, one mine operator and one rep
 resentative of the public, with power to fix wages and prices.
 That would depend on the makeup : of the individuals" Norris returned i, but think at least larger number : ought to be named. It, gives two in hterests q chance to combine agains the third"
 ! MT, Guthrie was called to presen actual facts fIprll payra'lsf upor
 saAbout 20 per cent. of miners ar,
 idle all the time. according to our 5e2- ( perience with 23 mines,n he told tlat
 conmittee "that is, we have to have : 120 names on the payroll in order t ] get 100 men on the job as a constan l factor. Miners like to celebrate al : American holidays and a lot of for 7 eign ones. Then they have 'Mitchel l day" on April 1 in honor of John Nit y chelI. They have Rabbit day on Nov ! { 10 when everybody adjourns to shoo : a rabbit" l. From mine accounts. he read tn l record of one miner who in 1S7 day of the present year earned $3,070, O c an average of s15.5o per day. He pail S7O q
 the period. and his fuel bill was S T Other records furnished showed earn e ings during the first nine months 0 V 1919 ranging from s1.400 to $2 100, fo y pick and machine miners.
 ? Senator Walcott, democrat, of Del c aware, drew out MT. Guthrie's view O
 the claimed double increase in miner, = wages involved in the settlement b s observing that Dr. sGarfeld's proposs d was the same as that put forth by tn = president.
 I "As I read the memorandum give e out by Attorney General Palmer" M
 Guthrie replied, it is proposed to SC = up a commission with power to fl h wage scales and coal prices. One ( n the things the commission is to do
 to go back to the mine districts an
 settle what are known as information
 al differences, and disputes over di1 e ferentials. All previous agreemen . between the miners and the operator
 have provided that these difficulti is shall be compromised in fashio - that will not add to the cost of mir ,li ,li ing or lower the earnings of men. IT y governments proposal as I view ] a9 a1 may result in twice the 14 per cen asi increase in miners wages and mil s 1S ing costs that Dr. Garfield was vii su ing to allow.
 ni n Senator Walcott inquired as to whether an actual settlement of u ~ ~ coal strike had yet been attained. o, You, as an operator don't think y, Is are bound by an agreement made a1se Indianapolis?" the senator asked. ol NO, I don't" Guthrie replied. :, That's right" Senator Walcott sa 7H There has been no acceptance of tl
 agreement there Nor is there al e power in the government to set ad commission which will fix wages al . prices of coal. It can be merely al - visory."
 be Chairman Frelinghuysen, after a a journment of the session said the eI, would be more hearings but did n ~A fix a date for them.
 IEIJGITlNE C0IINT= prEp