New-York tribune., 1920-03-12
Coal Board
Quits; Split
Over Wages
Continued frsn pass enc

Is confidently asserted that II tho an
thracite negotiations had not reached
an acute stage White would have
signed the majority report.
In view Of the fact that President
Wilson, in appointing the coal COM
mission consisting of representative
of the public (Mr. Robinson), repre-
sentative of the operators (Mr. Peale),
and representative of the miners Mr..
White), expressed strongly the wish
that it's decision should be unanimous,
will accept it as satisfactory.
Wage Demands Modified
There is also a possibility that the
miners will reject it, though President
Lewis pledged them in advance to
abide by the decision, whatever it
might be-on the ground that he had
a unanimous finding in mind.
Although the miners originally
asked for 60 per cent increase In
wages, they modified it during the ne
gotiations with Secretary of Labor
Wilson to 45 per cent.
However. in presenting their case to
the commission, they went back to the
original so per cent demand. 1t is un-
derstood that MIR. White insists that
21.61 per cent that Secretary Wilson
adjudged to be right. He is supposed,
also, to be opposed to allowing the
operators to increase the price of coal
to meet the granted wage advance.
If the coal commissions majority
decision is rejected by the btuminous
miners it Is considered that there is
little likelihood Of the anthracite
people adjusting their dispute. In
that event a combined strike of the
100000 bituminous and the 10000
anthracite miners is possibility for
April 1. On that date the old agree
ments expire in both fields by limita-
ton, though the bituminous miners
so modified by the fuel admnistra-
tions direction during the war that it
really expired with the signing of the
armisticc.
Miners Defer Decision
Secretary William r. Green of the
Union Mine Workers said to-day
that the union would wait to see what
Mr.. White recommended before stat
ing the position of the miners anent
the majority report.
The premature publication of the
salient points of the majority report
CduSeU IHucn DeTCurDatlO0. Inc White
House blamed the Coal Commission and
the latter blamed the former for the
leak" The generally accepted ex-
planation is that MIR. White tipped it
off so President j. l.. Lewis and Secre-
tary Green Of the miners, so that they
could advise the anthracite men in New
York, and that they later communi-
Gated the facts to the news associa-
tions. 1t was the intention to release
both majority and minority reports
simultaneously. The texts may be
given out tomorrow.
Tremendous pressure has been
brought to bear during the last few
days to get Mr.. White into line. 1t is
understood that, among others, Secre-
tary Wilson labored with him. 1t is
denied, however, that there was, as re-
ported, bitter alteration between
Messrs. Robinson and Peale on the one
hand and Mr. White on the other.
The majority report consists of find
ings, decisions and recommendations
nd is said to be remarkable for the
frmness and aCgressiveness of it's tone
through out its hundred-odd typewrit-
ten pages.
President Robinson left for his home
in Pasadena, Calf, at O'Clock this
evening, and Rembrandt Peale went to
New York this afternoon. They con-
slider that they have established the
basis of lasting peace in the coal mines
if their decision shall be accepted 1t