Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-12-05
!'PEEII}|ATOR5 BELIEVE
NEW WAGE: SCALE
Will. Be ACCEPTED
Mine Union Heads to Face
Contempt Proceedings Be-
fore United States Judge
Tuesday Morning

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Dec. "A
federal grand jury has been called
for next Monday morning to invest1-
gate charges that coal operators are
ia league with miners in a conspiracy
to Violate the Lever act, District At
torney Z. Ert Slack announced to.
day.
WASHINGTON, Dec 4.-The new
wage scale agreed to by the larger
G operators was ready today to
be submitted to the fuel admfnistra-
ton for ratifica ton. On this agree
ment, it was believed, compromise
would be reached by the miners and
operators which would bring the soft
coal tie-up to a peaceful settlement.
Although the proposed scale was \
not made public pending it's consid-
Grafton by the fuel administration,
it was understood to contain more
liberal concessions to the miners than
were suggested by Fuel Administra-
tor Garfield, who proposed IA per
cent wage, increase.
work were received from various
parts of the country, but conditions
in the central fields in the main ap-
peared unchanged. The new offer,
the operators believed. would break
down the stubborn holdout of the
miners and ere long soft coal again
would be issuing from the shafts in
volume and relieve the country OF
tie disastrous affects of a coal fam
inc.
Palmer Studies Evidence
Attorney General Palmer today
had before him a great mass OF
evidence in connection with activities
of leaders in the coal strike.
Assisted by Judge G. B. Ames, as
sistant attorney general Mr.. Palmer
is giving personal attention to- tho
evidence mad sorting it for use Tues
day in. indianapolis.
Judge Ames probably will leave
here Sunday for Indianapolis to d.
rect the governments side of the
case. This has not yet been definite
ly decided, however. Presentation
of the governments case may be
left to Dan G. Simms, of Lafayette,
Ind special United States distr;cI
attorney.
If Judge Ames remains here ;t
will be because his presence is
needed to take charge Of the collec-
tion OF additional evidence OFFICIALS Y
said to-day. ~
C2cc.al Agents active
Special agents OF the justice de-
partmcnt arc stationed in and near
every coal field. These men have
been at work since November 8,
cd M
Injunction restraining mine union
leaders from directing and carrying
forward the strike. Mailing and tele-
graphing reports daily, they have
crowded several files at the head
Offices here with the story of the
activities of local leaders of the
miners, it was learned.
The evidence collected, although
not vet made public, is understood
to be a most exact description OF
the daily lives of the leaders. One
story is that a local leader went
among the miners disguised as Il
peddIer to give them directions. Jus
tice officials today, however, refused
to verify this story.
Because of The serious coal sltua-
ton, railroads which usually operate
special trains between New York
and Palm Beach during the winter,
have been ordered by the railroad
administration not to inaugurate this
special service at the present, at
least.
Production Encouraging
Complaints OF the lack Of uniform
tv in the local application Of coal
rationing orders brought out by Fuel
Administrator Garfield's appeal ~
the country reached fuel headquar-
ters from several sections. Middle
western states and cities, particularly
Chicago, were insistent that the same
drastic restrictions apply in me
New England and eastern states as
are effective in the central region.
Production reports were viewed as
encouraging both in official circles
and among operators representatives
meeting here to consider the policy
that the employers should adopt IN
coming with the coal miners strike
Il was said semi-officially that an
inward tendency d been noted dur
ing the last two days. The opera
tors expected this to be accentuated
when the notices had been posted at
the mines of the new wage scale de-
ctded upon under Dr. Garfield's sug-
gestion of a IA per cent increase.
After a conference with Fuel Ad'
rinistrator Garfield, Senator Cum
INNS. of Iowa, announce dtoday that
the fuel administration had agreed
to increase by so per cent the coal
allotment for Iowa, Missouri, Ne
r?sI1a. South Dakota and Kansas.