The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-03-23
Wilson Withdraws
Control Coal Price

| unreasonable prices for COAL" II am
aware" said the president that at
present, as result Of the shortage
created by the coal strike and of the
consequent interference with trans
portation and as a result also of the
exceptionally unfavorabe winter, the
demand for coal continues active. |
desire to impress upon the coal opera
i tors the extreme importance not only
Of their complying TO the fullest extent
with the laws against combinations In
restraint of trade and against profiteer-
= but also of their eXerting them
selves affirnatively to prevent exacting
of unreasonable prices for coal | am
sure the public fully appreciates the
desirability, where practiCabl of leaV-
ing commercial transactions untram
meled, but at the same time | am salts
fled the public will find ways to pro-
tect itself if such liberal policy shall
appear to result in unreasonably high
prices
recommendations.
Other recommendations by the ma
jority included:
That the council OF pational defense
obtain the support of the general pub
lie for coal storage.
That the interstate commerce COM
mission be directed to aid in the solu-
tion of the transportation problems,
with particular attention to the question
of seasonal freight rates, car supply and
car distribution.
That state governors be asked to is
sue executive orders to state institu-
tions and departments for the purchase
and storage of winter coal during the
summer.
That state railway and public utili-
ties commissions use their influence
with the various utility commissions
to induce the purchase and storage of
coal by those corporations.
That the railroads be asked TO coop
crate ir coal storage, car construction
and distribution, and the reduction TO
a minimum of the practice Of COM
Wandering coal,
That the federal reserve board per-
NIT federal reserve banks to favor as
eligible for rediscount paper drawn
against coal in storage.
That the interstate commerce COM
mission, state railway and public utll-
tiles commissions within their juris-
diction issue rules controlling car dis
tribution among mines to the end tnat
no particular mine or mines may be
permitted TO obtain preferential car
service.
Abolish r. n. PRIVILEGE
That the practice whereby purchas-
ing agents or carriers can use company
control over car supply to force down
the price CT railway fuel be abolished.
The principal point of difference be-
tween the ajority and minority re-
ports was on the matter of hours of
work. Commissioners Robinson and
Peake recommended retention OF the
present eght-hour day, but Commis-
sioner White agreed to such hours only
until April l. 1921. After that date,
Mr.. White held the maximum hours for
miners should not exceed eight hours
under ground a day nor more than six
days a week. The miners demanded a
six-hour day and a ffve-day week.
John l.. Lewis, president of the
United Mine Workers of America, in a
formal statement expressed dlsap-
pointment that the president had af-
frmed the ma jority report of the COM
mission but said the miners were ready
and willing TO respond to the sugges-
tion that they participate in joint
wage conference.
win Remain al Work.
New York, March 2ssE-The general
scale committs rtpreski ullg the an.
threcite coal milrers by virtually unan-
imous vote decided today to remain at
work after April !, pending negotiation
of n new wage agreement providing
the mine owners agreed TO. make any
wage award retroactive to that date'
Commissions Report.
The majority of the commission
said the wage advance to tonnage
workers after this award would
amount to SS per cent. since 1913,
average Ill per cent, and that these
advances granted the miners an in
crease in wages larger than the per-
centage of increase in the cost OF
living submitted by their representa-
tivcs.
1.-THE time has come" said the ma
iority report, "for the people of the
country, of which labor constitutes a
large part. to look beyond temporary |
wage settlements and consider the
general welfare, first. OF the general
public itself, then of the employees
and employers.
"A wage settlement for the mo-
ment is not a correct or adequate .
answer to the problem. The coal in /
dustry has been on an unsound ba-
sis for years because of its seasonal
character and the resulting car
shortages and car service intormit-
tancies. When the market drops in
the spring and summer there are
idle men, idle mines and idle cars. !
From the standpoint Of employers |
and employees, tho industry has
Welded a hazardous return.
The solution of the problem is to |
bring about evcnncss of production |
and distribution. This can be done |
by the cooperation OF the railroads, |
public utilities and steel companies |
as consumers, on the one side, and |
of the operators, the interstate com /
mcrce commission, the banks and the |
federal reserve system, on the other |
side. Some of the leading railroads /
have given assurances of their Coz /
operation. Others approached have /
not"