The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1920-03-19
COAL COMMISSION
SPLIT OVER WAGES
MAJORITY RECOMMENDS A GEN.
ERAL ADVANCE IN PAY OF
TWENTY-FIVE PER CENT
MINERS MAN REJECTSRULING
Preparing a Minority Report Recon-
nnending a Seven-hour Day and
Wage Increase Of Approx
nateiy IS Per Cent

Washington, March 13.--The com
mission appointed by President Wilson
TO settle the coal strike has split on
the questions OF wage increases and
hours Of work.
The majority-HAry NJ. Robinson.
chairman, representing the public, and
Rembrandt Peale. representing the OPP
erators-in report submitted to Pres
ident Wilson Thursday, Is understood
to have recommended general wage
advance Of approximately % per cent
and that the hours and conditions Of
labor remain unchanged. The increase
included the Ia per cent granted after
the miners returned 10 work.
John r. White, representing the
miners, refused to concur in this set
Element. He Is preparing a minority
report In which 1t Is reported that
he will recommend seven-hour day
and a wage increase of approximately
30 per cent.
In advance of the publication of the
two reports, officials of the United
Mine Workers of America would not
discuss the probable course Of the
miners. Since their representative on
the commission had refused to accept
the majority decision, however, it was
regarded as certain that they would
not accept the settlement it proposes.
William Green, secretary of the
miners union, after conference yes
terday with Secretary Tumulty at the
White House, said there was no radi-
cal difference between the majority
and Mr.. White and expressed the hope
that the differences would be irOned
out at Joint meetings between the OPP
orators and the miners.
President Wilson, In inviting the
members of the commission to under
take settlement, said 1t was impor-
tant that their conclusions be reached
by unanimous action. Since the com
missions decision is not unanimous
there Is much speculation as to the
presidents next step.
The operators would not dis uss
this matter In advance Of deci don
by the president, but 1t was plain that
the miners and some administrati IN Of
ficials expected Mr.. Wilson to invite
the two sides to get together on the
basis Of the majority and minority ~
ports and seek an amicable settlement
In addressing the commission the
president said that IL reimbursement
Of prices Of coal shall be found neces-
sary, ! shall be pleased to transfer to
the commission the powers heretofore
vested in the fuel administration for
that purpose.
While the commission was under
stood not to have asked for these
powers, Ii was suggested In some APP
parently well Informed quarters that
the individual commissioners would
propose that some price advance be
made on the basis of the facts adj
duced ut the long hearings held by
the commission since Its appointment
last December
The commission began It's hearings
January II with the understanding be-
tween the government and the miners
that Its report would be made within
60 days, which period expired yester-
day.
The commission would have no au-
thority to enforce Its findings had its
report been unanimous However.
when II began hearings the miners
agreed unreservedly to abide by its
decision and the operators accepted
Its Jurisdiction with the reservation
that they could not be bound by any
price advance for period subject
to the life of the Lever food con-
troll law, as this might subject them
to prosecution under the antitrust
laws.
Throughout the hearings the oper-
ators insisted that many mines could
not operate II wages were advanced
unless there was corresponding In
crease In coal prices. The miners
eontended against this position and
charged that the operators had made
large profits during the war.
The miners originally demanded a
60 per cent increase and 30 hours Of
work week the year round. In the
conferences with the operators called
by Secretary Wilson after the gov
eminent had obtained an injunction
TO end the coal strike. their representa-
tives receded from this and agreed TO
accept Mr., Wilson's proposal for a 31.6
per cent increase In wages and
seven-hour day.