Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1919-11-25
Wage Controversy in Soft
Coal Industry Is to Be
Discussed Today
May Call Wilson
AS Final Resort
Fuel Administrator Gives
Five Principles on Which
Actions Are Based
[RepubIican A. p. Leased wIre1


WASHINGTON, Nov. "a = Settle
ment of the controversy over new
wage agreement in the bituminous coal
industry tonight awaited action by
President Wilson's cabinet
Fuel Administrator Garfield, speak
ing to the joint wage scale commit
tees of operators and miners, an
nounced five principles which have
governed him and his associates, but
different interpretations were placed
upon its various provisions by the
workers and the mine owners in in
formal discussion after the meeting.
DIR. Garfield called the miners ana
operators together after a conference
with Attorney General Palmer, Di-
rector General Hines and Assistant At
torney General Ames.
May Call In President
At the meeting of the cabinet to-
morrow a definite decision of policy
regarding all phases of the strike sit
uation is expected, and if the cabinet
is in disagreement, the whole question
may be put before the president.
Owing to the disagreement which
had arisen as to the amount of the,
increase in the cost of living and con-
| sequently the per cent of wage ad-
vance needed to meet higher living
! costs, great significance was attached
to DR.. Garfields declaration that "the
average total increase in pay over ths
1913 base, which was the base con-
sidered in 1917, should not exceed the
present increase in the cost of living
over the same base"
1t is also to be considered that the
/ nf
rise during the next few years." he
added
Operators construed this statement
as in conflict with the contention of
Secretary Wilson that miners should
be given 81 per cent wage advance
to equalize the margin between pres
ent wages and a 79 per cent rise in
living cost since 1914
Pointing out that war time coal
prices were fixed for the purpose of
stimulating production, Dr. Garfield
declared that the public would not
now pay the increases over norma.
profits allowed during the war. His
further statement that any wage in
; crease should be 'fborne by the op-
orators or the public or both was gen
orally taken to mean that part of tEs
advance must come odt of tie excess
PioAieS VI tue INNING companies.
The Five Principles
, The five principles announced bv
DR.. Garfield were:
Ffrst-The public must not be asked
, !, to pay more than it is now paving
| for coal unless it is necessary to do
SO in order to provide reasonable
wages to the mine workers and q
reasonable profit to the operators
Second-The arrangement entered
: into between the operators the miners
and the fuel administration, with the
sanction of the president of the United
= States. in october, 1917, was intended
to equalize the wages of all classes of
, mine workers and to be sufficient to
cover the period of the war, but not
9 beyond March 81, 1920; hence, the only
i increase in cost of living which car
now be considered is the increase
9 above that provided for by the average
increase in 1917, that is to say, the
$ average total increase in pay over the
: 1913 base, which was the base con-
sidered in 1917, should not exceed the
S present average increase in the cost
OF living over the same base 1t is also
: to be considered that the cost of Twins
d VIII fall rather than rise during the
g next few years.
u abiS 'NOt y ray All
: "Third-The maximum prices fixef
by the government on coal were cal.
culated to increase production of Goa
for war purposes. Coal was basic ant
the increase imperative. The public
ought not to be asked to pay and vii
not now pay the increase over norma
profits then allowed for the purpose O
stimulating production.
"Fourth-Any increase in wages nov
= arrived at on the basis of the forego
u ing principles should be borne by tn,
e operators or the public or both as ma,
70 be determined by the application O
n these principles and should take effec
as of the date when the men retur,
e to work
'Fifth-The needs of the Unite,
e States are not alone to be considered
h Europe is in desperate need of Goa
= and should have all that we can spare.
al Thomas 7. Brewster, chairman O
n the operators, said that DR.. Garfield
It pronouncement merely reaffirmed tn
e. statements of the fuel administrator