Norwich bulletin., 1919-12-10

Indianapolis, Ind. Dec. 9.-The gen. eral committee of the United Mine Workers of America meeting here to consider President Wilson's proposal for ending the strike of bituminous 6.30 o'clock without reaching an agreement. The committee will meet again tomorrow morning at s.SO o. clock.
 The miners had been in continuous session since two o'clock this after noon when John L. Lewis acting pres ident Of the United Miners orgainZa ton, presented the proposal of Presi- dent Wilson 10 end the strike, which began more than five weeks ago. T have nothing to say" said Act ing President Lewis after the ad- 3oUrnment. except that we still have the matter under consideration and wiu meet again at 9.S0 tomorrow morning"
 The general committee of the min CTS is composed of eighty-four inter- national and district officials and members of the organizations execu- dyc board and scale committee.
 .r Alter the miners adiouricd this eV- ciling it was reported that big fac tor In the opDositlon to acceptance Of the. presidents proposal was the belief on the part of many miners that 1t would require another session or the general convention of the Unit ed Mine Workers to make valid an agreement 10 end the strike.
 tt was pointed out that the last gem eral convention, held in Cleveland, formulated the demands to be present cd. to the operators and voted that in tho event they were refused that a strike should be called. The plan ap- proved by the general .committee all SO provided that in case of strike and subsequent proposals for settle nent another general session would have to approve any action taken looking to an end of the tieup.
 -Fhs presidents proposal, made pub he by Attorney General Palmer here this afternoon provides for resunlp- tion of work by the miners at a l4 per cent. wage increase, pending fi- nal settlement of the wage controver- sy by a commission to be appointed by the president. This commission would include in it's personnel one practical miner and one active mine owner or operator, and would not only aojust the wage question as related To the increased cost of living, but would adjust coal prices to meet the wage advance without allowing too great a burden to be placed upon the public t 1E tsTf = " The attorney general in making pub
 
 it had been prepared by the chief executive with. a view to appealing to me miners generally throughout tine country. However he said. before U was made public, Acting President Lewis and Secretary Treasurer William Green of the mine workers called upon rim Saturday afternoon and were Sno" the presidents statement. The union leaders. Mrs. Palmer said final ly agreed to urge their general com nittee to accept the presidents plan and called the meeting here today.
 In order that the plan for settle ment might be submitted to the gener- al committee this afternoon, the gov ernment this morning asked and ob- iainsd postponement of hearing of eharges of criminal contempt pending ln Ieoeral court here against the 8z union heads who form the general committee. At. the same time fudge Anderson granted motion by govern ment attorneys for postponement of a lederal sErand jury investigation of alleged violation of the Lever law and antitrust acts. by moth miners and operators. The contempt proceedings are set Tor hearing next Tuesday and sne grand jury investigation for the following day.
 Attorney General Palmer was in tht courtroom this morning when the con. tempt cases came up for trial but took no part in the proceedings. The gov. ernments request for postmonennent vas made by C. B. Ames, assistant te me attorney general. and by L. Er slack United States district attor- rcy. Judge Anderson made m coy,, ment on the contempt cases ar th, roFernmcnt's request beyond ra, marks as to when they should h, brought up again. - N
 That opposition to acceptance of tb, presidents plan developed soon afte tqe miners session convened was ev iuenccd by scraps Of the sneecha
 incn could he heard outside the hal in which the meeting WAS heire l,el. ir-a local hotel The arrume,,7 dvr ieS the afternoon was very heated . ii, t1esriy indicated that the attitude n some Of the delegates undoubtedIv r-a delaying final action in favor of end lnr the strike. ',-
 During the day Acting Presiden Lewis received a telegram from Sec Ietary or Labor William B. Wilsol ursIhg me miners to accept the ne1 proposal and 1t is known that tbi message together with the president' pFopisal and memorandum agree upon by Lewis and Green and the at torney general, was read at the min CTS meeting. mn
 Text of Presidents PropAsaL
 The text of President Wilson's pro possl 10 the miners follows:
 have watched with deep concer the developments in the bitunirou coal strike and am convinced there much confusion in the minds of fin people generally and possibly of bot parties to this unfortunate controver ey as 10 the attitude and purposes ( the government in it's handling of in situation. D
 The mine owners offered a war increase of 20 per cent, conditione, h9weyer upon the price of coal bein raised 10 an amount sufficient to cove this proposed increase of wages. whic would have added at least si50 o00 oo 10 the annual coal bill of the neonl The fuel administrator, in the light z present information, has taken the no sition. and think with entire iustifi cation. that the pubic is now pavin as high prices for coal as it ought f Dc requested to pay and that any war increase made at this time ought f come out of the profits of the coal or orators.
 Tn reaching the conclusion, the flu, administrator expressed the person, opinion that the the 1f per cent. in creasc in all mine wages Is reasonab because it would equaIize the miner wa<ea on the average with the cost that the operators and the miners al sf liberty to agree upon large ir