Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-03-12
MINERS WANT $50
INCREASE AND SEVEN
HOUR WORKING DAY
Public and Operators Increase
Includes 10Gc Given Miners
After Return to Work
Failure to Agree Puts Cues
ton Up to President-Miner
Heads Silent On Course

Washington. March Icy The
Associated Press The commission
appointed by President Wilson 70
settle the GOA strike mas split def
nitely on the question Of wage n
creases and hours of work.
The majOrity-Eenry NJ Robinson,
chairman representing the public
and :. Rem hran- Peale. representing
the operators, n i report submitted
70 President Wilson is understood 70
nave recommended a general wage
advance OF approximately % per
cent and that hours and conditions Of
labor remain unchanged. This IN
crease includes the "A percent grant
&c after the miners returned 70 work
john ?. White representing the
miners. refuses 10 concur IN this
settlement. H IS preparing Z mi
nor,rv rapnrr IL winch il Is reported
tina ne will recommend seven
hour DAY and q wage increase Of
approximately 50 percent.
IL advance OF the publication Of the
two reports, officials OF me | nitad
Nine Y orke-s OF America would
not discuss the probable course Of
the miners. Since their representa-
10 accept the majority decision. how
ever. i was regarded as certain that
they would not accept the settlement
il proposes.
William G-een. sec-eta~v of the
miners union after a conference
with Secretary TumuItv al the White
House late To-Day salG there was no
radical difference between the ma
JoriIy auC Nj White and Expressed
ne hope that the differences would
ne Ironed nut at Joint meetings be
tween the operators and the miners
President Wilson IN inviting the
members Of the commission TO under
take d settlement SAID Il was irupor-
-ant that their conclusions be reach
ed by unanimous action. Since the
COMMISSION decision Is not uUani-
nous there is much speculation as
70 the president next step.
The operators would not discuss
me matter IN advance of a decision
by the president but II was plain
mat the miners ana some admins
rraLion officials expec. M Wilson 10
invite the two sides 70 ger together
on the basis Of the ma ioriry and mi
norIry reports and seek an amianle
settlement
The majority repor- is being with
held from publication until Nj
Whites report mas been submitted TO
the president. Members declined 10
discuss and there seemed 10 be some
advance II The price OF bILumlnous
GOA 70 absorb the proposed wage in
creases.
In appointing the commission. the
president saIG that IF q re-aGlust-
ment Of the prices Of coal shall De
found necessary I snail be pleased 10
transfer to the commission powers
heretofore vested III the fuel admin
!st-alon for that purpose"
While the commission was under
stood not to have asked for these
powers il was suggested IN some ap-
parent,y we'll informed quarters that
the individual commissioners would
propose lhar some price advance be
made on the basis of the facts ad-
duced az the long hearings held by
the comm lssIon since It's appointment
last December.
The majority report was said 10
cover something like thirty Thousand
words. Included among frs recon-
menaatlons II was understood were
retention OF the cneck-Off system by
which the operators collect the dues
for the union anG referentials IN re-
gard to the special commission To
De appointed IN the next joint wage
conference report within TWO years
In an effort 10 reach unanimous
conclusion. the commission was un-
nerstood TO have held many long SEES
slonE this week, meeting both DAY
and night. Mr. White held out
against the majority recommends
lions. however. and when an agree
meut appeared hopeless the majority
proceeded to complete their report at
midnight last night. sending il 10 the
White House early today
The commission began its hearings on
january 70 with the understanding be-
tween the government and the miners
tnat its report would ne made within 80
days. which period expires tomorrow.
The commission would have no au-
thoritv to enforce it's findings had its
report been unanimous. However. when
il began hearings the miners agreed un-
-eservedly 10 abide ny it's decisions and
the operators accepted It's Jurisdiction
with the reservation that they could not
be bound by any price advance for a
period SUBSEQUENT to the life OF the
Lever food control law. as this might
subject them TO prosecution under the
antitrust laws.