Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-12-23
NOT CONSULT TED ON
SETTLEMENT TERMS
MINE OWNERS SAY
Operators Failure to Accept
Plan Would Be ''Anazing
Reputation of Their Own
Statements" Says Palmer

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22.-Coinci.
dent with President Wilson's appoint
ment Saturday of the commission Of
three to carry out the governments
plan for settlement of the soft coal
strike, the executive committee OF
the bituminous coal operators asso-
citation issued a terse statement flat
ly denying that the operators had
agreed to or been consulted in re-
gard to the settlement terms.
The operators denial was aimed
specifically at q statement contained
in Mr.. Wilson's identical letters to
the three commissioners he has Sc
lected, Henry M. Robinson, Pasadena,
Cal. representing the public; John P.
White, representing the miners. and
Rembrandt Peale, of Pennsylvania,
representing the operators, that the
operators as we'll as the miners had
agreed to an dadopted". the govern
ment's proposal. 1t was met inn
mediately by a. Statement from At
torney General Palmer declaring it
would, be an amazing reputation
l,of their own statements" if the OPP
orators now failed to accept the set
Element plan.
The presidents announcement and
the statements from the operators
and the attorney general which came
on it's heels followed a day OF con-
ferences between Mr.. Palmer and
representative of the min eowners
and also a meeting of the operators
executive committee.
No official word came from either
side as to the nature of these discus
sions, however, although it was ap-
parent that the presidents announce
ment was expected at the White,
! House and no reason for the delay
was disclosed. Later developments
I were said In some quarters to
show that Mr.. Palmer had been en-
deavoring to induce the operators to
join fully in the governments plans.
| Presidents Letter
In his letter to Mr.. Robinson, the
! president reviewed the coal strike
| situation and the various fruitlesa
! efforts made to arrive a" a settle
ment before his own plan was pro-
posed and adopted by the miners. Mr..
| Wilson said he had been informed
| that the operators have generally
agreed" to the plan and told the
| commissioners that if, in their
| judgment after a full examination of
| the facts, "a reimbursement of the
| prize of. coal shall be found neces-
saTy" he would clothe them with
| the powers now vested in the fuel
/ administration to carry out tina.
I Judgment. This grant Of power will
| be given, however, the president add
/ ed, only in the event of unanimous
| decision by the commission as to
| it's findings.
Production has now been resumed
! at the mines, Mr.. Wilson said, on
sufficien" scale to warrant ap-
| pointment of the commission to
make effective the terms of the
| governments proposals. He warned
| the commissioners, however, that
while their decision as to new
| wage scale for the coal miners
would, he was quite sure, be &C
cepted as a basis for an agreement.
in the coal fields which would pro-
mote public welfare, no lasting
| benefit could come of a settlement
that did not guard at every point
the public interest. 1t was for this
reason, Mr.. Wilson said, that the
requirement of unanimous decisions
was imposed.
The president Informed the COM
missioners that on their acceptance,
he would call a meeting of the
commission in Washington 20 lay
out plans for it's work.
Operators Deny Statement
After President Wilson's letter to
the members of the coal committee
was made public, the executive COM
mittee of the bituminous coal opera
tors association issued a formal
statement saying the operators had
mot agreed to any memorandum such
as that mentioned in the presidents
letter +. Involving basis of adj
justment of the coal strike" The
statement said the operators had not
been consulted in the strike settle
p1ent nepOti9tiOnS