The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-03-24
WILSON WITHDRAWS GOVERNMENT
CONTROL OF COAL ANDPRICES
EXPECTED TO GO UP SHORTLY
Directs Coal Operators and Min
ers to Make New Wage Scale
on Majority Report Basis
WARNS AGAINST COMBINES
President Tells Operators They
Must Not Restrain Trade
i'm Violation of Law

Fvashingon, Mar. 23.-ciovernment
control over the maximum prlce OF
biturninous coal was withdrawn today
by President Wilson effective April 1.
u At the same time the president wrote
the operators and miners transmitting
the majority report of the Coal Com
mission and informing them that this
report was the basis upon which the
wage schedule agreements between
the mine workers and operators shall
be made"
April y is the date on which these
agreements normally would become
effective and by removing government
control of prices effective that day
the president pares the way for in
creased coal prices to absorb the aver
age per cent. increase recommended
in the majority report.
The president wrote the operators
and miners that it was essential to
the public welfare that the agreements
be concluded at the earliest date prac-
ticabIe so that the uncertainty as TO
the fuel supply may be ended and that
the consumers may be able to make
contracts for their coal supply"
The president said he assumed that
neither party would raise any ques-
tion and that he was sure that no
ques tion could properly be raised as
to the binding character of the award
by the majority of the commission
notwithstanding the fact that it was
not unanimous.
The executive order withdrawing
government control of prices removes
virtually all government control OF coal
placing the fuel administration in the
status that it was before its authority
was restored when the miners struch
last November /.
The president said there was no pro-
vision of law for ffSing new coal prices
for peace time purposes and that un
less and until some grave emergency
shall arise, which in my 1udemgnt mas
a. relation to the emergency purposes
of the Lever act. would not ieei Jus
titled in fixing coal prices with rei
arances to future conditions OF pro
ductions.
Tba majority report of the com
mission said the 27 per cent increas
absorbed the IA per cent increase al
lowed when the miners returned
work and that in dollars it would ap
nroximate 5000. 100000 a year.
+, refusing the demand of the MN
- FOR a thirty hour week. the ma
iority of the commission said that
tho work day We're shortened by on
borr a would be equivalent 70 an " "du
ditional cost of more than SloV'ooV'ooe
rrbe minority report of John
yvbiee. the miners representative hep
ont for a higher increase Tor an oa
Labor and monthly men than wer
Granted by the majority, but he con
Cured in the recommendation lor
"a cent ner ton increase on pick an
,,ac,ine mining. His report was trans
,,,itted TO the operators and miners o
the president for their information.
THE general terms of the two report
pre1iously had been published.
The decision of the majority-Henr
NJ Robinson. representing the puoil
ara Rembrandt Peale representing Tn
onerators-is summarized as tollows.
Unless otherwise ordered the term
and conditions OF the Washington
agreement of 1917 continue.
The IA per cent. increase in wage
fixed by the fuel administration !
eliminated on March 81 and replaces
Nv This award (which is on a q pc
cent. basis.)
THE agreements drafted under thu
award are TO take effect April /, lsz'
ana continue until March 81, 1922 til
Other. words the miners do not ge
their demand for termination OF con
tracts in the fail.
The mining prices for mining mine
run coal. pick and machine, are ad
vanced "a cents.
All day labor and monthly men ar
advanced dollar a day, except trap
pers and other boys, who are ad
vanced SO cents day.
An rates for yardage, dead worl
and room turning are advanced 20 pc
cent.
The funfillment of all joint and dis
trict agreements are to be guarantee
by the officers of the International or
ganE.ation.
The six hour day and the five da
week are not granted; the hour aa
is retained.
Teh practice of car using stands ou
1 with recommendations for careful ce'A
sideTation of ways and means TOT ~
Introduction OF ameliorating practlee
commission is set up for the cei
tral comparative field TO handle aues
tions of differentials in rate ana CO.
other matters.
If the recommendations OF the ~ E
ident's industrial conf ere n 9 q
adopted in regard TO Industrial trlo'
nails and boards of inquiry, TINS ma
chinery is to be put into use In q
coal industry. otherwise speci
-----------------