New-York tribune., 1919-11-24
High as They Will Go, 1t
Is Declared; Prelimi-
nary Meeting With Car
field Expected To-day
Settlement Left
To Government
3l.61 Per Cent Wage In
crease Demand Confis.
catory, Say Operators
Netc Yor'e Tribune
Wrshin1fOu R,iYoo,t

" Gshtngtor Bureau
WASHINGTON, Nov. 23.-Set-
Element of the deadlock between the
bitumnous coal operators and
miners is to be put squarely up to
the government just as soon as the
operators are given an opportunity
to lay their side Of the case before
Dr. Harry Garfield, Federal Fuel
administrator.
The operators have asked Dr.
Garfield for a conference, and may
meet with him tomorrow Although
the exact nature of the proposal
they will make to him was not dis
closed tonight, it is known the
operators feel they cannot make any
greater concessions than the 20 per
cent increase Of wages they already
nave offered to the miners, and
that since the operators and miners
have failed to reach an agreement
eli a wage scale it is up to the gov
ernment, the third party to the ex-
listing contract governing wages and
conditions Of labor, to find basis
ior settlement.
Operators Call Offer Confiscatory
The operators will inform Dr. Gar
field the proposal for a 31.61 per cent
wage increase, q seven-hour day with
half holiday on Saturday and the refer
ence of local questions and conditions
to the proper local authorities, is re-
garded by them as contiscatory They
Will assert again their willingness to
submit the entire matter to arbitra-
ton or adjustment by any fair tribunal
and are expected to stand firm on that
position.
1t was pointed out tonight among
the operators that the government all
through the negotiations and the court
proceedings in the miners strike has
insisted that the wartime contract
affecting the miners in still valid, and
that now in view of the failure of the
Senate to ratify the peace treaty it will
more strongly insist that the United
States has not arrived at an actual
state of peace
Government Faces Difficulties
President Wilson, in the statement
prepared by the Cabinet several weeks
ago, lald emphasis on the fact that
many things remained to be done be
fore the nation actually could be con
sidered to have returned to a peace
basis
The government had no power dur
ha
cept the present contract except the
power OF pupllc OPINION, and it would
nave no power to make them take an
othef contract tomorrow except the
same power of public opinion and the
pressure 1t always can exert IN many
ways when 1t wishes to accomnlieh
some particular end.
One fact that may make 1t more diff
cult for the government to negotiate u
new contract is that Secretary Wilson
of the Department of Labor ALREADY
has approved scale of wages nvolv-
ing the increase of 31.6l per cent over
the existing scale, which rate the
operators hold to be contscatory
Whether Secretary Wilson made his
proposal with the approval of other
members of the Cabinet has not been
disclosed, but it is not believed he did
Cabinet Faces Problem
The Secretary has been left largely
TO his own devices in handling this
phase of the coal situation, and it is
certain his 31.6l per cent increase was
not taken up at the last Cabinet meet
ing on November Is.
If the operators do not get Dr. Gar
held to bring about some sort of arbi-
tratlon or negotiate new contract
with the government as party the
whole situation undoubtedly must go
before the Cabinet on Tuesday and
some program adopted there which will
force an agreement.
DR.. Garfield has been convinced for
several days it was necessary TO give
the operators and miners Il "reasonable
time III which to attempt to work
out their own solution. but he is we'll
aware that the reduction in production
is so marked that steps must be taken
quickly or the condition OF the country
industrially. from transportation
standpoint and from that of the do
m9stic consumers Will be serious in
deed
Price Advance Doubtful
If DR.. Garfield were to agree TO an
advance in the maximum price of coal
the operators might accept the miners
demands for the 81. 81 per cent in.
crease. But DR.. Garfield was the tar
! get of so much criticism in the wal
days that naturally he is reluctant to
1 approve such an advance unless he is
convinced the people of the country
are willing to pay it rather than face a
continued coal shortage, or unless the
Cabinet agrees that such an advance
is absolutely necessary to bring about
an adjustment.