Norwich bulletin., 1919-11-26

Washington. NoT. :5.-Lille the min CTS and operators. whose troubles it l was trying to adjust, President Will soE's cabinet tonight seemed hopeless U deSdlocked on the question of a wage increase ia the bituminous coal industry. Alter R six hour session. the cabinet, which took up the wage scale agree oieat where operators and miners left or. last week, adjourned until tomor row. when another attempt. with the aid Of Fuel Administrator Garfield, VIII be made to agree upon a. pay scale. that will satisfy the mine work CTS and owners and the people in all sections of the country who are clam orins for normal production of coal.
 The proper basis of calculating the proposed wage advance, and the ratio us dividing the consequent increase i'm cogt of production of coal between the operator and the public, are under flood to have been points of differ cace among. the cabinet members. Dr. Garfield, who took 8 leading part in the discussions. took issue with Secre- tzry of Labor Wilson as to the meth od of applying the figures accepted 6y both.
 No statement was forthcoming af- ter the meeting except an announce nient by Dr. Garfield that the cabinet would meet again tomorrow, and that he would not see either the miners or operators meanwhile. He declined. to sag whether progress had been made, but one member of the cabinet de- csared prospects of an agreement vero mot hopeless" -t-e -Secretary Wilson's estimate that the tost of living had increased 7s per cent. over 1914 was accepted. it was understood. but a difference of opin- ion arose as to the application of this and other figures in computing an in- crease In wages. ttt Secretary Glass said tonight that he tu.Eht have some ver5- interesting figures" tomorrow, emphasizing that hey had been compiled for the public and not for the cabinet. He declined 70 sar whether they were the Income .zx returns received by the trehsitry k>-~ mt on exeess profits fr1i> lne .oal -..dustry. s.snsrcanc, ~ss Atsssens.s to F,ais arncuncenent in view of the fact that lhe amount Of profit made by the coal rompsnies during the last two years, 9pd the percentage of increase in any possible wage advance which the op- eT4tors might be asked to bear have been the most bitterly disputed points .n the controversy. s 4.
 The statements of Former Secretary pf the Treasur- McAdoo charging that sor1e coal concerns made enormous profits during his incumbency came in lcf discussion at the cabinet meeting. lt was learned. but no one would say what form the discussion took.
 The Lever food control act was not mentioned at the meeting, 1t was said. Owing to the time consumed on oth- r matters, it was not believed that Inc cabinet discussed methods of en- iorcing It's decision in case the verdict fiould not be acceptable to workers sr mine owners.
 Director General Hines attended the ressiop. but declined to say what ;ook place.
 Before the meeting this morning, Attorney General Palmer said that if .ho figures as to operators profits given yesterday by MT. McAdoo were correct. it was not likely Dr. Garfield would permit an increased price for coal.
 In a statement bearing on this issue the operators said that conditions in isi7 were abnormal" but that as Mir hcAdoo s~@ ignorant" of conditions h 1918 and 1919, .liis message carries 70 weight and requires no answer.p The operators said they welcomed ar investigation of current tax returns Ea6 that they had been urging board os arbitration or a tribunal of inves- aEztion. but that the miners refused 10 agree to il.
 The sub scale committee held a per functory meeting today, at which Dr Gzxfeid's statement of principles wal discussed. Pending word from ths AnA rd4 a-A &11- At scmerroT.
 chz-ring that Secretary McAdos uan been "studiously malicious, 1ecrEe H. Cunning. managing direc tor of the American Wholesale Goa Association in g statement tonight explained that the 1000 per cent. O which the former secretary complain cH was not figured on either volume O brsiness or capital stock. This per ce1tzge, he said. was made in the cas. et abandoned mines worked on a co operative basis. where the only capita 5oreisted of tools and supplies.
 fn connection with Dr. Garfiel6' statement before the joint wage. seal committees yesterday that the opera tors could not expect the profits al lowed during the war. it was recalle, tanight that Rembrandt Peale, opera tor. and John White, miner represen tzttve, coal experts of the fuel admin lstrator in their final report to Dl Garfield. concurred In a statement tha l. would have been possible for tn operators to pay an increase in wage put of the established coal price with sut raising the price to the consumer
 Ar. Pesle and Mir. White pointe, cut that the operators generally ha, bean paying bonuses and other form Of increased compensation above tn establinhed vsge scale in order to ge miners to turn out coal to meet tn biz demand