The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-11-27
Mine WORKERS
OFFERED RAISE.
Leaders Say Cabinet Agreement
On Ia. Per Cent Will
Be Declined
SOME ARE INDIGNANT
Public Will Not Be Called On to
Pay More for Coal Says
Garfield

Washington, Nov. 2s.-Wage in
creases of Is per cent for all mine
workers, the maintenance of govern
nent control over coal prices, with no
Increase in prices at present, were
the conclusions of Fuel Administra-
tor Garfield. announced tonight to
operators, miners and the wage scale
committees.
Declaring that Secretary Wilson,
acting as authorized agent of the
cabinet and President Wilson," of
Tered an increase of 31.06 per cent
Acting President Lewis of the miners,
asked if the government intended to
"repudiate the acts of Secretary will
son."
DIR. Garfield replied that Secretary
Wilson made proposal mediator to
facilitate negotiations and that Sec
retary Wilson told him today it was
the duty of the fuel administrator to
fix prices. and not the function of the
Secretary of Labor. The cabinet agrees
with his proposal DIR. Garfield added
Garfield said that miners without
the proposed Ia per cent increase are
better off than other classes of en-
ployees. Garfield recommended that a
permanent body consisting of the Sec
retary of the Interior and an equal
number of operators and miners, with
purely advisory powers. apply the
principles announced by Garfield.
Garfield said lowest wages paid
miners was $4.75 day and that work.
ing two hundred days annually the
minimum average yearly income would
amount to $3.50, which he said is a
little higher than wages of other en-
ployment. William Green, secretary
of the United Mine Workers asked If
that would maintain the American
standard of living. That depends on
circumstances" Garfield replied.
Garfield declared higher wages
would make miners the favored class
and such situation would not differ
from that of the corporation that at
tempts to add to its profis at the ex-
pense of few.
Garfield explained he not trying to
uictate 10 the wage scale committee
"hat II should do but that he was
prepared 10 say that regardless of the |
alhouht or wage advance agreed to by |
lhe operators aai miners the public |
mOuio not De essIed on to pay more |
for its coal
During the sharp cross-fire ques-
iohang franz harrington. of the IL |
hnois District, United Mine yvor,,ars
) 1arfieio II the miners would be !
'esaroed as outlaws IL they did not re-
- work Garfield replied the
-ht tsDftf1liieht never has attempted to |
DasAl'Va men 10 work against their will |
projection would be offered |
Dl1ners willing TO return.
&RAhston replied he did not think |
e necessary as none in Illinois |
1a1s 70 return under the new
poaAoations On the other hand |
o'efa1ors said the IL per cent /
- spsofDed al profits of the mines |
-, -a'',isa. Garfield said they win
then loss
Acting President Lewis said xvhen
the meeting ended that The s.l -
VIII not ACCEPT the IA nor ca,,.
increase. ne wage
A number Of miners sttanna -
Jeer the new wage sc,1a -. 70
aaoWatt, OF the Kansas r,i,a,s, a,sa
tefa1ed It as an Insult and saia .
OUT ana night 1t
SUB committees OF anera.o -
miners Went into executsva sass-...' ~ -
consider the offer bur aaso.,rs-, -
i've minutes to meet apatr ,ar.-s-es
Atiantas Nov 2g.-It heca,,,e. -.
tooay mat the regional coal co,,,,,,,t.aa
paeAsa py ful time powers tns
Iuei administration is prenay;r,e, :, -,
1orce It's requests for coal .e.,~os-a
tlon unless yoluntarfl.y ca,,.,-, e4 - ~