New-York tribune., 1920-08-31
Wilson Grants
Miners Raise
OF $50,O00,0O0
Favors Majority Report of
Commission; Defles An.
thracite Men Who De-
mand Minority Terms
Strike Still Threatened
Increases Average II to 25
Per Cent; Powers of Mine
Board Are Increased

From The Trtbaue's Washirotcs, Bureau
WASHINGTON, Aug. 30.--President
Wilson to-day approved the majority
report of the Federal Anthracite Com
mission, granting the miners a retro
active increase in pay ranging from II
to 25 per cent and other concessions
for which they have been fighting.
The President, in a message to the
Pennsylvania miners, answering their
threat of a general anthracite strike
unless he reject the majority report Of
the anthracite commission, declared he
could not and would not set aside the
judgment of the commission
The President told the miners he ex-
pected them to live up to their agree
ment of last spring to abide by the
commissions findings and accept its
decision as final
But if your communication is in
tended as a threat" he telegraphed,
"you can rest assured that your chal-
ienge will be accepted and that the
people of the United States will find
some substitute fuel to tide them over
until the real sentiment of the anthra-
cite mine workers can find expression
and they are ready to abide by the
obligations they have entered into"
Wage Increase s50,Oc0,OOO
The majority award of the commits
sion provides:
Wage increases ranging from II per
cent to 70 per cent, aggregating about
$5O,OO0,O0O a year for the approximate
ly lie, 900 men emplOyeG
Back pay amounting to about $2O,-
100000, as the award is retroactive to
April /.
Substantial notifications of the "in-
dlvldual contract" system, or as some
Of the miners have referred to it. the
"sub-contract" system, whereby every
individual man affected is assured Of
protection and relief where necessary.
Broader powers for the Board of
Cancellation, half of whose members
are miners.
two-year contract, ending March
81, 1922, as demanded by the miners.
Payment for tools lost through ac-
cidents for which the miner is not to
blame.
Extension of the eight hour day to
pump runners and hoisting engineers.
Protection for contract miners en-
counterng abnormal conditions in
>4iSiA WI oiitS PioSCS, ASSURING Lncnl
reasonable remuneration.
Investigation of the practicabilty of
establishing a uniform wage scale at
all collieries.
Formal recognition of the United
Mine Workers of America as a party
to the wage contract.
A meeting of representatives of the
miners, operators and others interested
was called for Scranton, Pa, next
Thursday, by Secretary of Labor Wilson
soon after the President notified the
commission that he had approved the
award recommended by the majority of
the commission.
At this meeting the miners will be
asked to accept the majority report in
principle. The details will be worked
out by the Board of Cancellation.
Ferry Pledges His Support
The Presidents telegram to the min
ers follows:
Replying to your telegram of Au-
gust 20, your attention is particularly
directed to the following language con-
tanned IN the minority report Of Mr..
Ferry, of the anthracite coal commits
sion.
lin conclusion, Mr. President, we
(CoHtsnuod on mana eavaa,