Republican farmer., 1920-03-26
Give Up
 Control
 Of Coal
Wilson Gives Order As to Soft Coal Effective
 April l.

Washington, March 23- President Wilson today with drew government control of the price of bitJMninous coal so that the 27 per cent wage ad- vance for miners recommend ed by the majority of the coal strike settlement commission may be absorbed in the price the consumer will pay after April 1. The commission eSti- mated this wage advance at $2O0,OO0,000 a year.
 At the same time the president made public the majority and minor ity reports of the commission and wrote the operators and miners ask ing that they reach an agreement on the basis of the majority report alone as speedily as possible so that the un- certainty regarding the fuel situation might be removed.
 The operators were warned by
 
 laws against combinations in re- straint of trade and pro6teering and also not to exact Unreasonable prices for coal"
 "I am aware." said the president, that at present, as result of the shortage created by the coal strike and of the consequence interference with transportation, and as a result also of the exceptional unfavorable s7 tinues active.
 l desire to impress upon the coal operators the extreme importance not only of their complying to the fullest extent with the laws against combin- atiOnS in restraint of trade and against profteering, but also of their exerting themselves affirmatively to prevent exacting of unreasonable prices for coal. I am sure the pub lie fully appreciates the desirability, where practicable, of leaving commer- cial transactions untrammeled, but at the same time I am satisfied the public will find ways to protect it. self if such liberal policy shall ap- pear to result in unreasonably high prices.
 In refusing the demand of the miners for a thirty-four hour week, the majority of the commission said that if the workday were shortened by one hour it would be equivalent to an additional cost of more than $10O,- OO0,O0OO
 The minority report of John P. White, the miners representative, held out for higher increase for all day labor and monthly men than were granted by the majority but he con cured in the recommendation for a 74 per cent. ton increase on pick and machine mining. His report was transmitted to the operators and min CTS by the president for their infor- nation.
 The general terms of the two reports previously had been published The decision of the majority---Henry M. Robinson, representing the public, and Rembrandt Peale, representing the operators---is summarized as follows: Unless oth erwise ordered the terms and conditions of the Washington agreement of 1917 continue.
 The 14 per cent. increase in wages fixed by the fuel administration is eliminated on March 31 and replaced by this award (which is on a 27 per cent. basis).
 The agreements drafted under this award are to take effect April 1, 1920, and continue until March 21, 1922 Gin  their demand for termination of con- tracts in the falD.
 The mining prices for mining mine run coal, pick and machine are ad- vanced A cents.
 All day labor and monthly men are advanced $1 a day, except trapperS and other boys, who are advanced s cents a day.
 All rates for yardage, deadwork and room turning are advanced 20 per cent.
 trict agreements are to be guaran- teed by the officers of the information al organization.
 The six hour day and the five day week are not granted, the eight hour day is retained.
 The practice of car pushing stands but with recommendations for care. fuI consideration of ways and mean: for the introduction of amelioratins practices
 A commission is set up for the cen, tral competitive field to handle ques tions of differentiaIs in rate and cer tain other matters.
 If the recommendation of tht presidents industrial conference are adopted in regard to the indus trial tribunals and board of inquir, this machinery is to be put into us, in the coal industry. Otherwise special board is to be set up.
 Explosives are to be furnished min CTS at cost
 Special boards are to be set up fo the Kanawha, Paint Creek and Cabil Creek fields, for district number 12 Illinois, including assumption an, Decatur. Illinois; also for the state o Washington, each commission t handle specific local conditions.