Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-11-27

his official capacity Secretary wils~n ot
fered the miners an advance of 81 SaQ
six tenths per cent.
Does the government intend to re-
pudiate the act of its authorized agent or
abide by it7'
There is gentleman in the cabinc-
respect more than Secretary wilson,
Dr. Garfield replied. His powers are
clearly defined. Among other things his
duties are to effect conciliatior. But
under the labor act the Presiden. was EN-.
powered to control prices and that duty
was conferred upon the fuel administra-
ton. You cannot fix prices without affect
ing wages and you cannot change wages
without affecting prices.
Both Secretary Wilson and l both
frankly realize this difficulty but I can
not allow it to stand in the way of doing
my duty 1t is not my understanding>that
Secretary Wilson made definite offer to
either the miners or operators but that
he merely suggested basis on which
you might get together
DR.. Garfield said the cabinet approved
the basis of settlement as presented
DR. GARFIELD'S STATEMENT
DIR. Garfield's statement to the joint
conference of miners and operators
follows:
''On the oath inst l announced that
the public must not be asked to pay
more than it is now paying for coal.
unless 1t is necessary to do so in or
der to provide reasonable wages to the
mine workers and reasonable profit
to the operators. Careful investi xntion
forces me to the conclusion that, in ac-
cordance with this and the other prin-
, ciples set forth on the oath inst, the
public ought to be required to pay
any increase in coal prices at this
time.
THE prices fixed by the government on
coal were calculated to increase produc-
ton for war purposes. Coal was basic
and the increase in production was i'm
perative. The operators are now in re-
ceipt of margins which were necessary
I to effect that increase of production, but
which are larger than are required un-
der present conditions. 1t was estmat-
/ ed that the production needed for 1918
was 600,OOO,OO0 tons. The estimate for
/ 1919 is 500 600 900 tons.
Applying the principles sent forth in
! paragraph two of the statement of No
vember a. when the average increases
/ in wages since 1913 for the various classes
: of mine workers are deducted from the
| increase in the cost of living since that
time we arrive at the amount of addi-
tional increase in wages justifiable at
the present time.
/ II have taken the figures of the bu-
reau Of labor statistics for both cost OF
living and for the weighted average OF
wage increases According to these fig.
ures the cost of living has risen 97.S pei
cent since 1913 and the amount necessary
to bring the average wages of mine work.
ers up to this point at the present time
is IA per cent.
ESTABLISHMENTS heretofore made since
1918 were such to give certain classes
of mine workers an average increase i'll
excess of the increase in the cost of
living. and certain others an average in
crease below the increase in the cost OF
living. This form of adjustment was
made in order to establish oG preserve
certain relative bases in the mining In
dustry. l do not think this condition.
! however. ought to result in giving To
mine workers as a wohle. and in conse-
uucnce and imposing upon the public. a
total average increase in excess of the
total average increase in the cost of liv-
ing, because IL this course be adopted.
the result would be that the total in
creased burden placed upon the mining
industry will be far in excess of the in
crease in the cost of living. If this
principle were applied in industries gem
orally, 1t is obvious that the resulting
cost would be passed along 10 the gem
eral public and the increased wages would
increase In a rapid spiral taking as a
minimum the percentage of increase in
the cost of living, In the long run this
would add many new and serious burdens
to tho cost of living of the entire public
and would fall more lnjuriously upon the
working classes than upon any others,
1T seems to me that the reasonable
way to deal with this situation is to give
to the industry as whole an average in
crease commensurate with the increase
i'm the cost of living and then let that
amount of increase be apportoned in ac-
cordance with the wage bases that are
acceptable to the employers and the em-
ploNes.
Control Of prices by the government
will be maintained for the present,
The present negotiation stands by it,
self, hut II is far from disposing of the
fundamental controversy between opera
tors and mine workers. That contro-
versy is bound to he a continuing one as
matters now stand II involves living
! conditions and conditions in the mines,
well as wages and profits, and the
general relation between operators and
mine workers. Therefore to aid in APP
plying the principles which have govern
ed us and which should govern i'm reach
/ Ing conclusions in the future, il is urged
that a permanent consultative body with
: purely advisory powers, be set up con-
sisting of the secretary of the interior
, as chairman and of an equal number of
representatives of the operators and Of
, the mine workers chosen In such man
=, ner as they may each determine from
time to time. In order that the data
! necessary for the consideration of this
4 Continued ON page 1O)