Evening star., 1920-10-27
MINERS
MAKE 8 DEMANDS
Wage Increases Equal to 27
Per Cent, Given Soft-CoaI
Workers, Asked.

! PHILADELPHIA, Pa, October 81
(by the Associated Press).-Wage in
creases equal to the 81 per cent re-
Gently granted the biblminous miners,
with minimum day rate of Sc and
a universal eight-hour day, in the
hardcoal regions were demanded by
!, representatives of the anthracite
ence with the coal operators.
! Under the presidential anthracite
! commissions award the hard-coal
men were given an average increase
of IL per cent, with a minimum day
rate of $4.2O.
In asking reopening of the award
at today's meeting, which was called
at the request of President Wilson,
demands which, they explained, would
eliminate alleged inequalities in the
present wage agreement.
The operators, without discussion,
, took the matter under consideration
and will present their answer to the
miners at another meeting to be held
here November 5.
Demands of Miners.
The demands of the miners we're
contained in the following statement
to the operators. explaining inequali-
ties in the present contract:
contract rates in the anthracite
region should be increased an addi-
tional IL per cent, in order that the
total increase may reach 81 per cent,
which was the average increase re-
ceived by the tonnage miners in the
bituminouS region as a result Of the
award of the PRESIDENTS soft-coal COM
mission
THE minimum day rate should be
more equitably fixed so as to conform to
the amount of wages necessary to sup
port an American family in comfort and
decency. Equity would dictate that the
minimum wage should not be less than
s6 per eight-hour day.
"All classes of labor receiving rates in
excess of the minimum rate in effect
previous to the agreement of September
2, 1920 should receive the same increase
as applied on the minimum rate, in order
that the differentials between the vari-
Gus classes of labor shall be maintained
1.-The hourly rates of those receiving
less than the old minimum of $1,545
should be increased to the same per-
centage of fiat amount as that received
by other employees.
II Per Cent Increase.
1.-The rates paid to consideration min
ers should be increased an additional
IA per cent in order that they may re-
ceive the average increase of 81 per cent
as provided for in the above paragraph
concerning contract increases.
'tContract, miners, laborers and con-
sideration miners laborers should re-
CclSe lHe same increase per Qay aS given
to inside day men, with provision for the
operators to assume responsibility for
the increase above the percentage
amount given to the contract miner;
contract miners laborers to receive the
full increase on their total rate or earn
ings received by them previous to the
agreement of September 2. 1920.
Monthly men and men on q shift
basis should receive the same increase
as provided for those receiving above
the minimum rate.
Men working In excess Of the
eight-hour day should have their
work day readtusted' to the eight
hour basis"
No ultimatum or threat to strike
was presented to the operators in
according to Thomas Kennedy, chair
man Of the miners committee.
Pledged to Attorney General.
CLEVELAND. October 27-At an
open meeting here yesterday of ap-
proximately 1000 coal operators, rep
resenting 1000 soft-coal operators in
the country and three-fourths Of the
total production, a resolution was
unanimously adopted pledging their |
support to Attorney General Palmer
to eliminate unreasonably high prices
and unwise practices. where such ex-
ist.
This action was taken following
the receipt Of a message yesterday
from the Attorney General requesting
the bituminous operators Of the coun-
try to cooperate with the Department |
Of Justice in bringing about the elimi- |
nation of unreasonably high prices |
for coal.
Yesterdays general meeting was
called by Col. d. 3. Wentz, president
of the National Coal Association. to
consider telegram sent by the At
torney General to the association last
week urging that steps be taken to
eliminate exorbitant prices for soft
coal.
During the discussion of the coal
situation at the open meeting many
maintained that bituminous operators
generally were receiving only reason
able profits. and that the large ma
jority strongly condemned prof1teer-
ing in coal prices, which. if it existed.
was the exception rather than the
rule.
Charges Lack Of Protection.
NEW YORK. October 27.-Charges
that the federal government has
taken no steps to protect the country
from coal profiteers were made in an
in Brooklyn last night by Senator
Calder Of New York. He ridiculed re-
cent efforts by Attorney General
Palmer to induce coal operators to
agree upon a fair" price for their
product.
The speaker reviewed at length
failure of the government to contract
for the Cuban cane sugar crop in
1919 at low price, and declared this
failure added hundreds of millions
Of dollars to the high cost Of living"
Senator Calder compared the present
coal situation to the sugar market a
year ago.