Arizona republican., 1920-03-30
AND
 MINERS ACCEPT
 AWARD OF COMM.
Wage intrease Provision to Be Effective April 1 = Protects Public's Coal
 Supply-Work to Go On
 Pending New Agreement
Republican A. p. Leased WIrel

NEW YORK March 29.-The scale committees of the bituminous opera tors and mine workers in a joint con- ference here this afternoon agreed to make the monetary provisions con- tained in the award of the bituminous coal commission as affirmed by the president become effective on April 1, and that the mines continue in opera tion pending the working out of new agreement The award provided for a wage increase of 27 per cent.
 The motion to accept the commits sion's award was made by representa- tives of the mine workers and was adopted unanimously.
 All local unions of the United Mine Workers in the central competitive fields will be notified immediately of the acceptance of the wage award, John l.. Lewis, international president of the mine workers. announced. Off, cial statements of the proceedings and action of the conference signed by the international officers also will be sent out.
 Action Protects Coal Supply
 This action will avoid any necessity for cessation of operations in the bitu minous industry" he said, and will fully protect the public by continuing the supply of coal after April l, pend ing the negotiations of a new con tract"
 After adopting the award the confer ence appointed a subcommittee to carry on the negotiations of a new wage contract for the bituminous workers based on the coal commits Sion'S report. This committee consists of the internationally officers of the mine workers and two operators and two miners from each of the four CT faf sol ff-x1I The committee will hold it's first con- ference tomorrow.
 The subcommittee probably will complete its work and reach an agree ment by the first of next week, MT. Lewis said tonight.
 A Big Telegraph Bill
 Secretary Green of the mine workers said it would cost his organization more than s4.000 for telegrams to mo- tify local unions of the acceptance of the wage award.
 The wage increase. under today's agreement. amounts to approximately 27 per cent. including the II per cent average increase granted by Fuel Ad- ministrator Garfield. As the miners are now receiving the IA per cent, the net increase will be 13 per cent.
 The increase is approximately s96.- 100000 more than the advance allowed by Administrator Garfield, according to the report of the coal commission The total increase in wage cost is given at s200. 900, 900.
 The award directs that the increase be apportioned between the groups of workers and classes of work as fol- lows:
 The Wage Increases
 Tonnage rates, pick and machine, to be increased by q cents rates for all yardage. dead work, narrow work and room turning to be advanced 20 per cent and compensation Of day wage men to be advanced 20 per cent.
 The commissions report points out that the wage advance granted miners in the central competitive district be- tween 1913 and October 31, 1919, when the Garfield award was made. average 43 per cent for tonnage workers and 16 per cent for day men.
 The first matter to come before the subcommittee will be the question of a shorter work day. representatives of the mine workers declared. The soft coal diggers will attempt to get a seven hour day.