Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1920-08-31
Meets Challenge and Signs
Wage Re
port
MUST FULFILL PLEDGE
Grants Pay Increase of Seventeen
Per Cent From April /, 1920-To
tai Increase $85 100000.

| Washington, Aug. 3l.-President
Wilson gave swift and pointed ans
~er today to the ultimatum of the
nard coal miners, who, having in
;urged against he union officials.
| threatened to strike unless the 81 per
cent increase in wages is granted.
when he approved and made public
the majority findings of the Anthra-
cite Coal Commission granting the
mine workers basic increase of II
per cent, from April /, 1920, recog-
nition of the union and certain other
important concessions.
The increased wages will approx
mate $S5.000,000 year and $4,000,
600 in back pay.
Replying to threats from the min
.rS that they would stop work Sep
tengber unless the minority report
of the commission. recommending
higher award than provided in the
majority. were accepted, the Presl-
lent stated definitely that the ma
iority award would not be set aside.
The majority report Of the COM
mission, signed by w 0. Thompson,
president Of Ohio State University,
representatives of the public and
hartman and by W. L. Connell. OF
Scranton. Pa. representing the ope-
ratorS granted wage increases of
20 and Il per cent. above Presen1
wage scale. The 20 per cent. wage
increase was awarded contract min
/ .rs ard the advance of II per cent.
was recommended for company min
rs. monthly men, miners laborers
and consideration miners.
The President also made public
he minority report. signed by Com
missioner Neal j. Ferry, the miners
representative, which deplored The
! allure Of the board tu grant the full
! demands Of the miners, recommend
! ID a minimum wage Of S6 day tor
| adult day iaborers and an increase at
II per cent for contract workers.
Quickly following the announce
nent cf the award, which provides
ha- the scale committee shall write
| he findings into binding contract
| 'cr = two year period. Secretary Of
I.ahcr Wilson sent telegram to the
wo committees requesting them b
meet in joint session at Scranton on
September to draft and sign the
new wage contract in the anthracite
fields.
Interest Of the genera! pubic in
he award ccntered largely in the et-
feet Of the increases in wages on
he price of hard coal. Taking cog
nizance Of this. the commission said
| hat. while making substantial M
provcmcnt in the situation Of the
| miners. ii had tried to he conserva-
i've and had declined to commit It
| self 10 a decision that might justly Be
! considered an encouragement TO THE
4c-callptl "vicious upward splraf' in
nriccs. The result. the commission
said was that the awards. while
orovjdinp improved conditions for the
workers. could offer no justification
eor arv advances in the retail prices
Of coal.
THE award has not passed grea:
burden along to the consumers ot
coal" the report asserted. ANY
sharp advance in the retail price o.
.caI could not be charged TO the ope-
rators. the miners or the award
In refusing the request of the Hin-
srs fer acceptance Of the minority
report. as made in a telegram sent
hrouph their local representative
he President called attention 10 6
-csolution adopted by the miners IT
convention agreeing TO accept the
findings Of such commission A. te
appointed.
"Ry all the laws of honor the
President says. that pledge should
he fulfilled"
| Z Continued on Page Three
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