The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-01-13
MINE WORKERS
AGAIN PRESENT
FULL DEMANDS
Lewis Defends Item BY
Item Before Com
mission.
ONE OPERATORS PRESERVE
viii Not Try to Fix Prices
Beyond Lever Bills
Life.
.ONE OPERATORS RESERVE

BY ASsoci2 ted Press
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13. Mine
operators in the Central competitive
field today told the commission named
10 settle the bituminous coal strike
that they would accept with single
reservation any award the commits
sion might make.
The operators said they would not
be party to the fixing OF coal prices
beyond the period of effectiveness OF
the Lever law, the wartime measure
under which the government has con-
trolled food and fuel prices.
Ralph Crews, counsel for the Cen
trail field operators, explained that
without making this reservation the
operators could not legally join any
price fixing agreement He also said
the operators would not make their
position contingent upon the prepare
tion of an answer to series OF dies
tions which the operators Yesterday
asked the commission.
In accepting the commission au-
thority the operators, Mr.. Crews said.
Bunderst0o that the Commission award
Should, ;of itsSowns weight constituts
a final contract between the miners
and operators for the period OF timu
fixed by the commision.nrs
President Robinson reminded him
that President Wilson'S letter Great
ing the commission authorized il only
10 make an award which might he
used as "a basis for wage contract"
He asked II the operators would NOT
modify the language in their accept
ance accordingly and Mr.. Crews fifiaii,
agreed that the commission Should
determine that point.
THE Mine Workers understood that
the award shall be a basis OF new
wage agreement and not of itself be
an agreement" said John u. Lewis,
Acting President of the Mine Work
ers. II trust va records are not be-
ing made here which can be used
substantially as basis for a refusal
by the operators to write into wage
agreement the commissions 8 award .
President Robinson said Mr. Crews
stipulation that the commission should
have power to determine what the pro-
cedure should be had cleared up this
point
Miners representatives put before
the commission their full. demands as
originally made and refused by the
operators before the calling of the coal
strike last November. Acting Presi
dent Lewis recited demands for an in
crease of 60 per cent. in wages, the six
hour work day and five day week for
the abolition. of double shift and for
the consideration by districts of inter
nal differences, and defended each OF
them.
THE living conditions and the So
cial conditions OF the miner, the en-
yironment in which he has been com
PEELED to raise his family have ever
been too low" he said. The efficiency
and help OF mine workers, he declared.
required shorter hours, and he add
ed that the miners would endeayor 10
show the commission that the average
bituminous coal mine did NOT worn
more than 30 hours week in every
case.
These demands were not put up hv
US as mere pretense on which 10
trade he continued "They original
ed in the minds Of miners themselves
and were expressed at their conven
tion which ordered the negotiation be-
fore the strike"