South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-02-04
COAL FACTIONS
FINALLY SUBMIT
CASE TO BOARD
Mine Officials and Workers
Conclude Argument Before
Settlement Confusion.
PRES. LEWIS SUNS UP POSITION
BY Associated Press

BY Associated Press:
WASHINGTON. Feb. 3.-with
concluding arguments presented be
fore the coal strike settlement COM
mission Tuesday by spokesmen for
the operators and mine workers in
the central competitive field. the
fate Of the reiterated demands Of
the workers for a 60 percent increase
in wages and a 80 hour week was
submitted TO the final decision of
the commission. Each side. how
ever, was granted permission to pre-
sent within five days a written brief
discussing the opposing evidence.
In the closing statement for the
United Mine Workers. John l. Le-
wis, acting president Of the organi-
zation. declared the reasonable
ness OF the miners demands not
only have not been shaken by the
operators evidence but have over
whelmingly supported it.
Sums Up Position.
Summing up the position of the
operators, Ralph Crews. attorney
told the commission that from all
the evidence submitted lit was ap-
parent that what the miners need
ed TO improve their condition was
not an increased wage scale. but
greater disposition 10 work. when
the opportunity TO work is given
them"
Throughout their presentation of
evidence the union representatives,
Mr. Crews declared have studious-
ly sought to deal in averages. They
nave refrained ne said, from pre-
sentiug a single case TO show the
potential earnings open TO the in
dustrious man" Statistics OF the
federal bureau Of labor, Mr. Crews
added. shows that in October, btu
minous miners throughout the coun-
try worked on an average of only
50 percent of the operating time Of
the mines, and that this was the
Fundamentally significant thing for
the commission to consider"
Miners could increase their earn
ings by % percent. he estimated, if
they worked whenever they might
Lewis Challenges Statements
Mr.. Lewis challenged the accu-
racy and the truly representative
character" Of the operators figures
on miners earnings. though declar-
ing at the same time that even if
accepted as dependable they were
$50 pitiably low as to carry their
own condemnation" Operators tg-
ures showing that i'm 1919 the aver
age monthly earnings of miners in
the northern Illinois field were
$S3.64. against potential earning
of $99. were characterized by Mr..
Lewis as pathetic" Such "a level
of pay. ne declared, is not enough
TO supply animal needs alone, with
out regard to comforts"
Final Plea.
a final plea on behalf Of the op-
orators that the commission pro-
vide means to compel individual
miners and their unions TO abide by
their working contracts with opera
tors. with the same obligation rest
ing upon the operators. was voiced
10y Phil TT. Penna. secretary of the
Indiana Coal Operators association.
Green, secretary of the union. in
a. final argument i'm support of the
miners demand for 3O-hour week
declared the granting of such a de
mand not only was Q J'economie
possibility" but that probably
would cause an actual increase in
production over the present eight
hour day. 1t would guarantee T..
the miner. he estimated. 266 days of
work i'm the year whereas for the
last seven years ne has averaged
only 200 days