South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-21
BRITAIN WILL
CONTINUE THE
COAL CONTROL
Government Accepts Report
of Special Commission,
Headed by Justice Sir
John Sankey.

LONDON. March 21.-Andrew
Bonar Law. the government spokes-
man. in a statement in the house of
commons. this evening. said that the
government had accepted the report
OF the special coal commission OF
which Justice Sr John Sankey is
chairman, including its Undertaking
to report on the question of nation
alization by May ., and to issue in
term reports from time to time on
the problem of improvements in the
industry
Problems of this nature would be
put into immediate operation, de-
clared Mr. Bonar-Law This in
volved the continuance of coal con-
troll for two years
With reference TO the Sankey re-
port. which he explained was signed
by three representatives of the en-
ployers not directly concerned in the
coal industry, and granted the min
ers two-thirds of their demands in
wages. Mr.. BonarLaw said that the
signers of the report recommended
Il further reduction in hours in
I 1921 because they assumed that by
them the output of 1913. namely.
( 2S7 million tons would be resumed.
/ The estimated cost of what was
! for the current year 100000
pounds.
Limit Profits.
IT was proposed that the profits OF
the coal masters should be limited
to fourteen pence per ton. Taking
! all things into consideration the esti-
mated cost TO the tax payers would
] be nearly thirty million pounds.
! Mr.. Bonar-Law also announced
1 that the employers had made what
/ ne himself and the labor minister
considered reasonable proposals to
the transport workers. and he had
/ reason to believe these would prove
acceptable 10 the men.
+ The negotiations with the railroad
men had not been concluded de
tailed statement of the mems de-
mands and the sum involved together
with details of the government offer.
would be published.
Meanwhile, said the speaker the
government mad definitely proposed
that wages, including the war bonus
should be retained at the present
level until the end of the current
year. The men had. in addition TO
that, however, pressed further de-
mands involving an estimated addi-
tional expenditure of more than ten
}, 5al in,
ent position of the railroads, was a
very serious thing.
Recommendations i'm Report.
The interim report to the coal
commission Of which Justice Sig
John Sankey is chairman. issued to-
night, recommend seven hours Of
work underground instead of eight.
from July 16. and six hours from
July IS, 1921. subject to the econ
omic position of the industry
The report recommends an in
crease in wages of two shillings per
shift for colliery workers now un-
der sliding scales and al advance
of a shilling for workers under 16
years.
In the interest of the country the
cOlliery workers, II Is further rec
commended, shall have an effective
voice i'm the direction of the mines.
The present system of ownership
and system of working is con
demned and a substitute must be
found either in naturalization, unfit
cation by national purchase or joint
control.
Another repors or the mine own
ers on the commission. recommend
/ an increase of eighteen pence a day
in wages and a reduction OF work
\ ing hours to seven.
\ third report by the miners rep
| resentatiVes. signed by Rober
| Smillie. the miners leader. Franl
| Hodges. ST. Leo Chiozza Money, Sid
| ney Webb and others. in fun OF thu
miners demands. including nation
/ alization.