Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-01-28
MINERS PRESENT
WAGE-SCALE DATA
Commission Hears Statistics
on Living Costs, Output,
Prices and Pay.

+ Miners representatives from the CEN
trail competitive district completed their
presentation of wage and coal mining
commission to settle the coal strike to-
day. and at the request Of the opera
tors Chairman Robinson adjourned the
commissions sittings until Monday.
when the statistical data for the en-
ployers will be presented. He also gave
notice that commencing February the
commission would hear representatives
Of the other coal fields outlying the CEN
trail territory.
miners union. who made their argu-
ment, continued his analysis of cost of
living statistics begun yesterday, fixing
the advance in costs since 1913 at IS
per cent. As to the ability of the mine
owners to pay advances he cited series
of production figures.
Prices I'm Past Years Cited.
In 1915. he said. 40O.000.000 tons
approximately of bituminous coal was
mined in the United States and sold
by the producers for a total of $780,
037,000 or $1.13 per ton.
In 1918, he said, 579, $4,000 tons was
mined, selling for a total of $1,491,-
$4,000 or $2.57 per ton. The wages
Of miners had not advanced, he said,
either in proportion to the profits of
operators or to the cost of living.
In 1914, he said, as instancing the
profits secured from the rise in value the
Pittsburgh Coal Company had earned
$1.371. 900 or FL per cent on it's capital
stock, while lin 1917 the same company
had earned $14,076,S52.
This was profit of $3.50 on each en-
ploye it had. and 2o.6 per cent on its
capital stock.
Treasury Statistics.
Further he cited statistics which he
said were obtained from the Treasury
Department and financial reports.
showing that in 1917 there Were 335
mining companies that made Is per
cent on their capital stock, 81 made
20 per cent, 295 made 25 per cent, 270
made 80 per cent, 232 made 40 per
cent or more. 1877. SO per cent or more
105, 100 per cent or more and eight
companies made over 1000 per cent.
Regardless of all increases. he said.
mine labor was receiving today fewer
cents out of every dollar paid to oper-
ators for coal than they got in 1913
and 1914
Greatest Earning Power.
Don Rose of Pittsburgh, spokesman
for operators in the Freeport field, as
serted at yesterdays hearing that the
IA per cent increase already granted
gave the miners a potential earning
power greater IMAM IIlaC Oh any OIQcF
class of American labor. Demands for
more pay for explosives and mine lights
and abolition of duties in connection
with moving loaded coal cars and ex-
cavating working spaces underground
were characterized by Mr.. Rose as at
ternpts to get further advances by in
direct methods.
Tonnage rates paid miners for getting
out coal, Rose said. covered all of the
miners supplementary demands. The
thirty-hour week proposal presented by
the mine workers Rose stamped as ut
terly impossible.
During the discussion the representa-
tive of the operators suggested that the
thirty hour week was "un-American,"
, thereby arousing the ire of John, L.
Lewis, acting president of the United
| Mine Workers.
II do not intend to remain quiet
while this challenge of our Ameri-
canism is repeated by operators
counsel" Mr.. Lewis declared, address,
ing the commission. THE mine
workers yield to no one in their al
legiance to American institutions,
are not germane to the matter under
consideration. and we do not propose
to be tried on the charge before this
tribunal at the within of any indi-
vidual"
Miners Living Costs.
Mr.. Bittner, opening his statement.
presented figures with view to
showing the exact status of the
miners living costs.
Mr.. Bittner declared that Prof. w.
F. Ogburn, formerly National War La
Dor Board expert and at present mem
her of the faculty of Columbia Uni