Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-11-25
kILS0N CABINET ITO SETTLE TIVE DISPUTE
Members Can't Agree Whole
 Question May Be Passed to the President.
|ARFIELD TALKS TO ROTH SIDES IN FIGHT
;ners Place One Interpretation On Administrator Remarks; Opera tors Apply Another; Fed eral Policy Outlined.

lOES APPIy 1AhOtAs~A9 M
 eral Policy Outlined.
 Washington, Nov. 24.-Settlement
 the controversy over a new wage
 rreement in the bituminous coal
 bdustry tonight awaited action by
 resident Wilson's cabinet.
 Fuel Administrator Garfield,
 peaking to the joint wage scale con-
 hittees of operators and miners, an
 ounced principles which have "gov-
 rned" him and his associates, but
 ifferent interpretations were placed
 In it's various provisions by the
 workers and the mine owners in in
 ormal discussions after the meeting.
 Dr. Garfield called the miners and operators together after a long con-
 terence with Attorney General Pal, her. Director General Hines, and Assistant Attorney General Ames.
 At the meeting of the cabinet to- morrow, a definite decision of policy Regarding all phases of the strike Situation is expected, and if the cabi- het is in disagreement, the whole question may be put before the presi- dent.
 Owing to the disagreement which had arisen as to the amount of the increase in the cost of living, and consequently the per cent of wage advance needed to meet higher liv- Hing costs, great significance was at tended to Dr. Garfield's declaration that "the average total increase in pay over the 1913 base, which was the base considered in 1917 should not exceed the present increase in the cost of living over the same base" Tt is also to be considered that the cost of living will fall rather than 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 31 per cent wage advance 10 equalize the margin between pres ent wages and a 79 per cent rise in living since 1914
 Pointing out that wartime coal prices were fixed for the purpose of stimulating production. Dr. Garfield declared that the public would not now pay the increase over normal profits allowed during the war. His further statement that any wage in- crease should be "borne by the op- orators or the public, or both" was taken generally to mean that part of the advance must come out of the excess profits of the mining compan- ies.
 The five principles announced by Dr. Garfield were:
 First: The public must not be asked to pay more than it is now paying for coal. unless it is neecs- sary to do so in order to provide reasonable wages to the mine work CTS and reasonable profit to the operators.
 Second: The arrangement en- tered into between the operators, the mine workers and the fuel ad- mlnistration with the sanction of the president of the United States in October, 1917, was intended to equa- ilze the wages of all classes of mine workers and to be sufficient to cover the period of the war, but not be- yond March 31 1920: hence the only increase in cost of living which can row be considered is the increase above that provided for by the aver age increase in 1917, that is to say, the average total increase in pay ov- CT the 1913 base. which was the base considered in 1917. should not ex- ceed the present average increase in the cost of living over the same base. It is also to be considered that the cost of living will fall rather than rise during the next few years. 1lxed by the government on coetao .. Third: The maximum prices 1lXed by the government on coal were calculated to increase production Of eoa! Tor war purposes. Coal was naslc and the increase imperative. .he public ought not to be asked to pay. and will not now pay, the in- crease over normal profits then al- lowed for the purpose of stimulating production.
 Fourth: Any increases in wages now arrived at on the basis of the IIoregoing principles should be borne ioy the operators or the public or both. and may be determined by the appllcation of these principles, and should take effect as of the date when the men return to work
 Fifth: The needs of the United states are not alone to be considered Europe is in desperate need of coaI and should have all that we car spare"