New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-05-24
- s.-
u. S. Offer to
Miners Said to
Exceed l5P.C C..
Proposal by Secretary of
Labor To Be, Submitted
to Convention Which
Opens To-day, Says Lewis
Union Is Recognized Also
District Leaders Instruct
ed to Oppose Presidents
Plan for Commission

WILKES BARRE, Pa, May 23.-John
L. Lewis, international president of the
United Mine workers, announced here
tonight that the basis OF adjustment
between anthracite miners and opera
tors drawn up by William B. Wilson,
Secretary of Labor, proposed recogn-
tion Of the miners union and wage
increase in excess of the Is per cent
already offered by the operators.
The Secretary's PROPOSALS will be
presented to the tri-district miners con-
vention which opens here tomorrow.
Mr.. Lewis said.
Although the proposals have not been
officially approved by the operators,
it is understood that the operators will
agree to them, if they are accepted
by the hard coal diggers.
If the new wage propositions are re-
jected, the convention will be asked to
pass on Presiden. Wilson's plan to
have the entire controversy settled by
= commission of three men, appointed
by the President.
Mr.. Lewis declined to divulge the
details of Secretary Wilson's proposals,
but said they probably would be made
public tomorrow after being presented
to the delegates.
II cannot discuss the merits of the
wage proposal or that of the. appoint
ment Of commission" said Mr. Lewis.
"That is a matter for the men to de-
eide entirely among themselves"
Commission Idea Opposed
President Wilson's commission pro-
posal will be fought in the convention,
it was learned tonight, when several
groups Of delegates from the district
reported that they had been instructed
by their local unions to oppose any
suggestion to submit the dispute to q
commission.
District officials Of the mine workers
said there was little possibility Of q
strike being ordered and expressed
confidence, that the controversy would
be amicably adjusted without any stop
page of work. They indicated that
they would urge the adoption of the
Presidents plan in event Secretary
Wilson's proposals are rejected.
Approximately Ave hundred delegates
representing the coal diggers of the
three anthracite districts of Pennsyl-
vania are expected to attend the con-
vention.
The new agreement suggested by
Secretary Wilson awards the contract
miner an increase ranging from 1880
to 1886 per cent over his present wage.
It also gives the day worker and con-
sideration miner wage scale with a
81 day minimum and g So q dy mkt
num-
Closed Shop Not Included
While recognizing the United Mine
Workers of America and it's officials as
a party to the contract, the proposed,
agreement does not include a closed
shop or the check-off system Of collect
ing union dues.
The tentative contract also denies
the hard coal workers a universal
eight-hour day. by excluding watch
men, stablemen, fanmen and some of
the pumpmen from the hour limit.
The wage increase to the contract
miners, union officials said, represents
a concession on the part of the opera
tors of an advance of about 2 per cent
over their offer made several weeks
ago. The additional increase to the day
workers veRge slightly more, it was
said.
The proposed contract already has
been rejected by the miners general
scale committee at q meeting in Wash
ington, after bitter debate. Christ
Golden, president of District 8, and
Thomas Kennedy, president of District
Z, are reported to have led the opposi-
ton to approval.
The scale committee, after rejecting
the proposals at Washington, voted to
urge the convention to accept President
Wilson's proposition for the appoint
ment of q commission to settle the
controversy