Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1920-03-25
PRICE OF COAL
TO BE HIGHER
PRESIDENT WILSON SAYS THAT
GOVERNMENT CONTROL OV-
Err MINES ENDS APRIL 1ST

Government control over the max
imum price of bituminous coal was
withdrawn today by President Will
son, effective April LIST.
At the same time the president
wrote the operators and miners
transmitting the majority report of
the coal commission and informing
them that this report was "the basis
upon which the wage schedule agree
ments between the mine workers and
operators shall be made"
BY removing the government con-
troll of prices effective April 1, the
president paves the way for increased
coal prices to absorb the average ~
percent increase recommended in the
majority report.
The president wrote the operators
and miners that 1t was essential to
the public welfare that the agree
ments be concluded at the earliest
date practicable so that the uncer-
tainty as to the fuel supply may be
ended and that the consumers may
be able TO make contracts for their
coal supply"
The majority OF the commission
said the wage advance to tonnage
workers after this award, would
amount to 50 percent since 1913,
while the advance to day men would
average IL percent and that these
advances granted the miners an in
crease in wages larger than the per-
centage of increase in the cost of liv-
ing submitted by their representa-
tives.
The executive order withdrawing
government control of prices re-
moves virtually all government con-
troll of coal, placing the fuel admin
istration in the status that 1t was be-
fore its authority was restored when
the miners struck last November.
The majority report OF the COM
mission said the 81 percent increase
absorbed the IA percent increase al
lowed when the miners returned to
work and that in dollars 1t would APP
proximate $500, 100000 year.
The president said there was no
provision of law for fixing new coal
prices for peace time purposes and
that unless some great emergency
shall arise, (which in my Judgment
has a relation to the act, would not
feel justified in fixing future condi-
tions of production"
The president said he assumed
that neither party would raise any
question and that he was sure that no
question could properly be raised as
to the binding character of the award
by the majority of the commission,
notwithstanding the fact that 1t was
not unanimous.
In refusing the demand of the
miners for 80 hour week, the ma
jority Of the commission said that IL
the. work day were shortened by one
hour It would be equivalent to an adj
ditional cost of more than 100000
600.
The minority report Of John P.
White. the miners representative,
held out for a higher increase for all
day labor and monthly men than
were granted by the majority, but he
concurred in the recommendation
for a "a cents ton increase in pick
and machine mining. His report
was transmitted to the operators and
miners by the president for their in
formation.
The fulfillment of all joint and dis
trict agreements are to be guaran-
teed by the officers OF the interna-
tioral organization.
The six hour day and the FIVE day
week are not granted--the eight
hour day is retained.
II the recommendation Of the
presidents Industrial conference are
adopted in regard to Industrial trib-
uals and boards Of inquiry, this ma
chinery Is to be put into use in the
coal industry. Otherwise a special
board Is to be set up.