Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1919-11-21
COAL CONFEREES
NEAR AGREEMENT
by SUDDEN TURN
Operators Offer 20 Per Cent
Wage Increase as First
Advance in Peace Negoti-
ations-Miners Say Offer
Out of Reason Without
Shorter Hours
[RepubIIcan A. p. Leased WireI

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20.-Though
operators and miners of the central
competitive fields remained hard
locked all day today in their negotia-
tions for a new wage scale contract,
prospects for an agreement that would
settle the coal strike were considered
brighter tonight thai at any time
since the strike was called.
The operators offered to the miners
representatives flat increase of Is
cents a ton on Goa lmined, and 20 per
cent increase for day workers John
J.. Lewis. acting president of the
United Mine Workers of America, out
wardly stamped the concession as
wholly inadequate, but both sides
plainly took the offer as a breaking
of the ice and an opening for trading
tomorrow.
Government Continues Inactive
Meanwhile. the government con.
tinued to hold hands off and Fuel Ad-
ministrator Garfield took no steps
only to ration or restrict coal con-
sumption.
President Lewis of the miners, after
the close of the session, said he con.
sidered that the operators proposal
had contributed nothing to the set
tlement of the difficulties but at the
same time indicated that miners were
preparing to come down a degree in
their demands for a six-hour day and
60 per cent increase.
The operators are proposing some
thing they know cannot be accepted .
he said. THE increase they would
give they simultaneously arrange to
| take back in increased charges tC
miners for supplies. Then they have
not talked the question of hours at all
We have many of our men who worl
nine and ten hours a day under pres.
ent conditions because the presen+
eight-hour day in many mines i.
merely basic theory and not an ac.
! tual fact
Thomas II. Brewster, chairman o
the operators scale committee, refused
to discuss the proceedings but tn,
compromise offer made by the oper
ators was outlined more fully by hi
associates.
Offer is Absolute Minimum
The proposed wage advances ar
the absolute minimum to be offered
W. T. Guthrie, member of the operat
ors' wage scale committee, represent
ing western Pennsylvania and Georg
B. Harrington Of Illinois, spokesmel
for the operators, said tonight.
Failure on the part of the miners t
accept the proposition would mea1
mediation by the government, Guthri
said
They estimated that the price @
coal at the time it leaves the min
would be increased from 35 to 40 cent
per ton as result of the offered ad
vances but declined to speculate as I
how much might be added by middle
men before the coal reaches the cor
sumner.
The position taken by the operator
representatives was that their off,
was strictly in line with the state
ments of Secretary Of Labor Wilso
and Fuel Administrator Garfield. D
Garfield's data, submitted to the was
scale committee Wednesday, they sal
, showed there was little profit left
, the operators in the margin" of
, cents on each ton of coal mined.
Commenting on the fact that Il
operators offered no change in worl
ing hours, Mr.. Lewis declared TIL
Secretary Wilson. during negotiation
. here in October, had offered the mil
!, / ers an eight hour day, counted fro
. the time the miner enters the mine u
til he leaves and that 1t was "a Gin,
he would accept nothing else." ~
eight hour day from bank to bani
he said. would be equivalent to sew
hours actual work in the mines