Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-03-24
PRESIDENT MOVES
|NFUEL SITUATION
Warns Operators Against Using
Power to Charge Unreason-
able Prices.
URGES WAGE AGREEMENT
Executive Indorses Majority Re-
port of Coal Commission Civ
ing 27 Per Cent Advance.
'ES Associatod prcs.. !

ny Associated Press
W.tSlIlNGTON. March 2:-Wits n
warming against profitccring. i'rcsi-
don't Wilson today ordered abandon
minors coal prices and asked miners
and operators 20 neSotiate q new
sTInS n,ssII.S r,@r @ 9n The os!T Of The
.tc;ncnt commission.
Tac President ordered formulation
%t rFi.e S3ni.o! on April l. when the
nc" work ois agreement becomes ef-
icc-i|c. 1HiS viii permit at least par-
tiaI absorption in coal prices OF the
1T - per cent, oy ihe commission's
majority report. The increase ia
wages. the commission estimated will
entail an added annual cost of s20r-
rOp,V"0 and includes the Il per cent in
rrcns" awarded the miners IN settling
~" recent strife.
Must Not Bc Unreasonable.
tn. operators. however. were re-
minded b. the President ,ha, unrca-
S"naDie prices must no, result from
he REIMBURSEMENT ot price controi ana
IA. addition OF increased wages to
their expenses.
rha dita of the joint conference OF
operators auI miners 10 formulate u
new Wage agreement had hot been set
tonight.
rne majority and minority reports
Of HE coal commission also wer. made
wor, Included by the President in his
letter 10 Tho operators ani miners.
The commissions findings. tho Presi
dent said IL Mas 10 br assumed that
thc two groups would regard the ma
jnrit: award as binding. Tho minor
i;y report would ,uc laid before them.
hH said for their guidance In reach
ing an agreement.
The President ~ resembling control
oyer prices restored the fuc. situation.
80 far as bituninons coal is CONCERNED,
10 ,hs ss5as existing ps,Gr TO TSES sSiad2s
vent our IN n nation-wide strike. Tho
executive order. however. does nor az
tcc, IA. Tidewat.r, Coal E.chanEs
which WIS rc-estabiished Fnhr;ia-N
-. aud which controls cxpor; of coal.
Must Comply With Law.
'tha' AT present. aa a result Of the
ana Of the consequent interference Win
transportation ana as q result. also. OF
the cxccptionaiiy uniaScrabl" 'N!atoT.
'h. demand io- coal continues active.
! desire 10 ,mprSSs upon tn" coal Opera =
;ors the extreme importauc: not only
III ',c!- c"WplyinE !" the fnllcS "Ft'nt
restraint of trade and against prolitc"r-
inr but u1so OF their cNcrtinE them
selves a:Irmativcly TO prevent exact :
in;; of unN'asonao!c nriG"s Of coal. ]
am sure tic iublir fully appreciate :
IN" dosirabi!ity. where practicable, OF
Iany.rg co'rmcrciai transactions un-
,uti~ncG he public viii find WAYS 10
protect itself II sucA liberal policy
shtli APPEAR. TO result i" unreasonably
.lnn,l l.. Lewis. president OF the
United Mine Workers OF America in q
.or;nai stationery expressed disa ppo!nr,
mont that ihc President had affirmed
.h. majority report OF thc commission.
hut said the minors were ready and
Wiling 10 respond TO the suggestion
'haL they participate in joint waSc
conference.
Decision OF Majority.
The decision Of the majoricy-ffcnry
VI. Robinson. representing tn" pnb,ic'
Unless otherwise ordered. the terms
and conditions Of the Washington
asrSSsmgni re- r or ian G9m,;nnc S.tcnsS in wares
iXed hy tho fuel administrator is
eliminated on March 81. and replaced
BY this award (Which is on a - per
Thc agreements drafted under this
award are TO 'aSc effect ADril !. l9ao.
other words, the miners do not get
their demand for termination OF con-
tracts in the faID. The mining prices
for mining 'nine-rnn c%nl: ,s PICK ana
All day labor and monthly men are
advanced q dollar day, cXccp, trap
ucrs and other boys. who are advanced
% cents a day.
All rates for yarda &c. dead work and
room turning arc advanced 20 per cont.
The fu!iilment of all joint and dis
ny the officers OF the international or
Sanization.
E:ight-Hour Day Retained.
The sixhour day and the five day
week are not granted; the ciSht-hour
day is retained.
The practice of car pushing STANDS,
nut with recommendations Tor care
fui consideration OF ways and means
FOR the introduction Of ameiioralinl;
practices
commission is set up for the CEN
trail compel: tive held to handle qucs-
tions OF dinercn.ials in rate and Ger
tain other matters.
Ii the rccommc ndationS of tho PreSi-
dents industrial conference are adopted
in regard Ia industrial tribunals and
boards of inquiry. this machinery Is TO
he put into use in tho coal industry.
otherwise "A special board is 10 be set
Explosives are to he furnished miners
Special boards arc to he set for the
fields, for district No. -. Illinois. in
Guiding Assumption and Decatur I'LL
nois. also for the State OF Washington.
each commission 30 handle specific local
conditions.
other recommendations by the ma
iority incIuded:
cics buy and store the winters supply
OF coal before each .luly I.
Tha; the council of national defense
obtain the support OF the general pun
lie for coIi storage.
That the Interstate Commerce Com
mission bc directed TO aid in the soiu-
iion Of thc transportation problems,
With par'icuiar, attention 10 the ques-
iion OF seasonal freight rates, car sup
ply and car distribution.
Urges HuyinE During Summer.
That State governors bc asked TO is
sue executive orders to State inSt!tu-
tions and departments for the purchase
and storage OF winter coal during the
summer.
That state railway and public utility
Continued on Second Pagc)