Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-03-12
MAJORITY WANTS
25PER CENT RAISE
But Would Make No Changes in
Working Day or Labor
Conditions.
WHITE FAvoRS COAL MINERS
Mine Workers Representative
Seeks IS Per Cent and
Seven Hour Day.
WHITE FAvORs COAL MINERS
lBy Associated Press.1

WASHINGTON. March 1l-The com
mission appointed by President wilson
10 settle the coal strike. has split def
nitely OH the questions of wage in
creases and hours of work
The majority, Henry NJ Robinson.
chair man. representing the public, and
Rembrandt Peale, representing the
| operators. in report submitted 10
president Wilson today, Is understood
to have recommended a general ware
advance OF approximately 25 per cent
ana that hours and conditions Of labor
remain unchanged. This Increase in
cludes the II per cent granted after
'ng John n1neTs fetpTned n,,,1s to work.
miners, refuses to concur in this set.
rtsment ranmet t. lie lie Is preparing a minority
wage increase Of approximately 35 per
cent. " Pe'
Won't Discuss Miners Course.
In advance of the publication OF the
Mine NINE Workers Of America would nor
discuss the probable course of the
nsrs the SsGe thetr hsG
rns In :; majority ni;c decision. however it was
resapded regard AZ certain they would not
accept the settlement 1t PROPOSES
William Green secretary of tba
miners union, after n conferences Win
Iate todsv umIlty snid ;bat. at the White House
4iHerences between the majority and
Inst Mr Mbn'te, IN ,irarsn and expressed the hope
out at joint meetings between tho M
orators and the miners
Sought Unnnimous Action.
resident Wilson, in inviting the
tnkn nein oers so, OF the commission to under
tan. that their conclusions be reaebsd
ny unanimous action. Since the COM
MISSIONS decision Is not unanimous.
there Is much speculation as To- the
freSidents next step.
I'm, me operators would not discuss this
mltter IN advance OF q decision br the
PRESIDENT, but 1t was plain that the
,nm.mers nniaiT anu some administration Of
the two sides to get together on the
OASIS or the majority and minority re
ports ports and seek an amicable settle
The majority report is being with
Whites VIII report M publication hns cato until Mr..
the President. Members of The ca,p 10
lnission refused to discuss II amd
In .heTe seemed 10 be some doubt wheth-
price or bitumnous coal TO absorb ths
proposed wage increases
Promised Adequate Power.
presidePpPP dePPPosafinF sn ;,,, the commisslon the
OF the prices OF coal shall be founI
necessary. shall be pleased to trans.
,er 10 the commission the powers here.
ior tnat purpose" -,
While the commission was under
powers. it was suggeeted in some eneSe aSe
narently weil-informea quarters that
me me inaividual commissioners would
made on the basis Of the facts adduceS
at the long hearings held by the com
mission since Its appointment last De-
The majority report was said to
cHver cimdad something omna Ike 10000 words. In
emf inr
check-off system by which the opera
aors collect the dues for the unions
ana references OF the question Of dir
terentials III wages to a special com
mission TO be appointed by the nexr
lolnt wage conference to report within
two years.
White Holds ont
In an effort to reach a unanimous
cohclusion the commission was nm
asrstond to have held many long ses-
niohS nighi ms as, week; meeting both day aud
majority recommendations. however.
anu ana when an agreement appeared hope,
less the majority proceeded TO com
| pletc its report 1T midnight last night.
sendins it TO the White House eariy
today.
The commission began its hearings
on January II. with tho understand
ing between the government and the
miners that its report would be made
pires tomorrow.
The commission would have had no
ia.'nority its rent to h.an enforce its findings had
when it began hearings the miners
agreed unreservedly to abide by its de-
| cision. and the operators accepted its
jurisdiction with the reservation that
,hey could not be bound by any price
ADVANCE for period subsequent 20
| the life of the Lever food control law.
as this might subject them 10 prose
eution under the antitrust laws.
Large Fronts Alleged.
Ihroushout the hearings the opera
tors insisted many mines could not op-
crate If wages were raised unless
tneres swaS corresponding increase in
The coal price The miners contending
against this position. charged that the
operators had Lsade large profits DUR
ing the war.
The miners originally demanded a
90 per cent Increase and thirty hours
or work per week the year round In
the conferences with the operators.
called by Secretary Wilson after the
tion to end the coal strike, their reps
reSeh:atives receded from this and
agreed to accept Mr.. Wilson'S proposas
for 3i.6 per cent increase In wages
and q seven-hour day.
The approximate increase OF 35 per
/ cent. which. IL was reported, Mr.. White
would recommend In his report to the
President tomorrow, was said to haya
been worked out on the same basis as
that OF Secretary Wilson. and that the
Increased cost OF living since Novem-
ber had been added.
MaJority's Basis ot Estimste.
Wage increases were said to have
been calculated by the majority Of the
commission on the basis OF tonnage for
pick and machine mining, a percentagegs
increase Tor yardage and dead work
and fiat advance In tho pay OF day