Bisbee daily review., 1920-03-12


 dertake settlement said it was i'm portant that their conclusions be reached by unanimous action. Since the commissions decision is not unan- imous there is much speculation as to the presidents next step.
 The operators would not discuss this matter in advance of decision by the president. but it was plain that the miners and some adminis- tration officials expected MT. Wilson to invite the two sides to get to- gether on the basis of the majority and minority reports and seek an amicable settlement.
 The majority report is being with held from publication until Mir Whites report has been submitted tol the president. Members of the com mission refused to discuss it and there seemed to be some doubt whether it recommended an advance in the price of bituminous coal ,, absorb the proposed wage increase
 In addressing the commission. the president said that if a readjust- ment of prices of coal shall be found necessary I shall be pleased to trans fer to the commission the powels heretofore vested in the fuel admln istration for that purpose"
 May Raise Price
 While the commission was under stood not to have asked for these powers. it was suggested in some ap- parently we'll informed quarters that the individual commissioners wouie propose that some price advance bel tl xf T duced at the long hearings held by the commission since its appointment last December The majority report was said to cover something like 30.000 words. Included among its recommendations, it was understood were retention of the check off system by which the operators collect the dues for the unions and reference of the question Of differentials in wages to special commission to be appointed by the next joint wage conference to report l within two years. In an effort to reach unanimous 1 conclusion, the commission was un- | derstood to have held many long sea- sions this week, meeting both day and night.
 White is Obdurate
 Nr White held out against the ma jority recommendations however. and | when an agreement appeared hope less. the majority proceeded to com plete their. report at midnight last 1 night. sending it to the White House | early today. The commission began it's hear | ings on January F with the under standing between the government | and the miners that it's report would | be made within SO days. which per iod expires tomorrow.
 Has No Authority
 The commission would have. no authority to enforce it's findings had it's report been unanimous. However when il began hearings, the miners | agreed unreservedly to abide by it's decision and the operators accepteo it's jurisdiction with the reservation that they could not be bound by any | price advance for period subsequent | to the life of the Lever act as this might subject them to prosecution f under the antitrust laws.
 Throughout the hearings the op- orators insisted that many mines f could not operate if wages were ad- 4 vanced unless there was a cores bonding increase in coal prices. The | miners contended against this posi- ton and charged that the operators | had made large profits during the | war.
 Agreed to Accept Less
 The miners originally demanded q < so per cent increase and 90 hours of | work per week the year round. In the conferences with the operators | called by Secretary Wilson after the |