Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-03-12
COAL COMMISSION
 SPLITS ON INCREASE
 AND MINERS HOURS
Majority Favors 9 Per Cent Including 14 Already
 Given
TO MAKE NO CHANGE
 IN OTHER CONDITIONS
Minority Stands for Seven Hour Day and Wage Boost to ApprOxi- mate B Per Cent, is
 Report

WaShlngton, March ll.-1he com mission appointed by President Will son to settle the coal strike has split definitely on the question of wage increases and hours of work
 The maj ajority-Henry M Robinson, chairman, representing the public and Rembrandt Peale, representing the operators, in a report submitted to President Wilson today, is under stood to have recommended gen eral wage advance of approximately 25 per cent and that hours and con ditions of labor remain unchanged.
 This increase includes the 14 per cent granted after the miners return ed to work. John P. White, repr- enting the miners, refuses to concur in this settlement He is preparing ia minority report in which it is re- ported that he will recommend a en-hour day and wage increase of approximately 35 per cent. In advance of the publication of the two reports, officials of the United Mine Workers of America would not discuss the probable course of the miners. Since their representative on the commissi ha d refused to accept the majority de- cision, however, it was regarded as certain that they would not accept the settlement it proposes.
 William Green, secretary of the miners union, after conference with Secretary Humility at the White House late today, said there was no radical difference between the majority and MT. White and ex- pressed the hope that the difference would be ironed out at joint meet ing between the operators and the miners.
 President Wilson in inviting the members of the commission to un- dcrtake , settlement said it was important that their conclusionss be reached by unanimous action. Since the commissions decision is not unanimous there is much specula- ton as to the presidents next step. Seek Settlement.
 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 maj aioritv and minority reports and seek ami cable settlement.
 The majority report is beine with held from publication until Mr. Whites report has been submitted to the president. Members of the com mission refused to discuss it and there seemed to be some doubt whether it recommended an advance ir the price of coal to absorb the proposed wage increases.
 In addressing the commission. the president said "that if readiust- ment of prices of coal shall be found necessary I shall be pleased to transfer to the commission the pow CTS heretofore vested in the fuel administration for that purpose"
 While the commission was under stood not to have asked for these powers. it was suggested in some apparently well informed quarters that the individual commissioners would propose that some price ad- vances be made on the basis of the facts adduced at the long hearings held by the commission since it's ap- pointment last December.
 The majority renort was said to cover something like 3O,000 words. including among it's recommendations it was understood, were retention of the check off system bv which the operators collected the dues for the unions and reference of the question of differentials in wages to a special commission to be appointed at the next joint wage meeting to report within two years.
 Mr. White held out against the majority recommendations, and when the agreement appeared hopeless the majority proceeded to complete their report at midnipht last week, send inr if to the White House early today.
 Price Increase Likely. The commission began it's hear ings January 12, with the under standing between the government and the miners that it's report would be made within 60 days, which period exnires tomorrow.
 The commission would have no authority to enforce it's findings had it's report been unanimous. How ever, when it began hearings the miners agreed unreservedly to abide by its decision| and the operators ac- cepted it's Jurisdiction with the re- servations that they could not be bound by any price, advance for a period subsequent to the life of the Lever food control act as this might subject them to prosecution under tho antitrust law.
 | Throughout the hearings the op- orators insisted that many mines could not operate if wages were ad- vanced unless there was 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.
 E~ The miners originally demanded a 60 ner cent increase and 30 hours
 work per week the year around. In (Continued from page 3