Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-07-19
MINERS MAKEPLEA
FOR LIVING WAGE
BEFORE BOARD
Phillip Murray Says Agree.
ment Between Men and
Operators Is Lacking.
By the Associated Peas,


SCRANTON, Pa. July 1s.-In argu-
ing for the mine workers before the
anthracite mine commission here to-
day. Phillip Murray. vice president
OF the union. declared the outstand-
ing development of the hearings
which are drawing to a close is "the
establishment for all time in this
Industry Of the principle Of the living
wage"
The operators have declared re-
peatedly their acceptance of this
principle and their purpose to adhere
to 1t and have stated that the sole
point OF difference with US is one
OF fact as to what constitutes a
living wage and how it should be
determined" Mr.. Murray continued.
1t was not until the cross xamina-
ton that we secured from the OPP
orators the amazing statement that
mine worker can live and support
family on American standards on
a wage of 1894 per day That is their
translation of the principle of the
living wage into concrete figures
that is their measure of the worth of
a man under present-day conditions.
Mr. Huber's $354 per day, plus Mr..
WARMERS cows and chickens, fresh
air and beautiful scenery, furnished
us by the operators without price
to us and without cost to themselves,
comprise the sum total of their con-
tribution to the information of the
commission as to how to determine
and what to fix as living wage for
$4,000 workers
Demands Meet Contention.
Our demands have been met by
the operators with the contention
that they are now paying us a living
wage, and with the further declara-
ton that if there should be any
wage increase it would mean an ad-
vance in the price of anthracite to
the consumer
When we sought to demonstrate by
an inquiry into the monopolistic
domination of the industry and it's alb
normally large earnings, direct and
indirect. that our just wage demands
sorbed by the operators out Of their
profits without an increase in the
price of coal to the consumer, We en-
countered technical objection from
the operators who raised the Ques-
tion as to the Jurisdiction of the COM
mission to go into matters of costs,
prices, profits and monopoly.
I'VE submit that we have estab-
lished beyond contradiction the fol-
lowing points:
Il Anthracite workers are not now
receiving a living wage.
would be largely in excess of the
maximum earnings which the opera
tors show in their own table.
"3- Our demand for a minimum
wage of Sc per day. with differentials,
is reasonable and conservative.
Earned COmmission's Judgment.
Therefore. we contend that we have
earned the judgment of this commits
sion for our full wage demands on
our submission in this phase of the
case
On the question of union recogni-
ton. Mr.. Murray said:
There can be no real industrial
peace or accelerated production in
the anthracite industry until the
United Mine Workers of America are
given a full and complete recognition
of their union. This is no threat. 1t
is merely the statement of a fact. 1t
cannot have, nor does it claim it can
have, the influence over the great
body of mine workers which it should
have until the operators accord 1t
complete recognition"