The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-21
ENGLAND,s ooAL srRIkE.


.ENGLAND'S COAL STRIKE.
The situation in which Englani 4
finds herself with regard to the coal
industry appears to be due largely TO
attempts of the government to eentrel
and regulate the business in ways
much like those adopted toward %he
railroads in this country. Under the
coal mines emergency act of January,
1920, the government guaranteed the
coal owners of the country a minimum
profit, equal to nine=tenths of the pre-
wax aggregate standard, if the eol-
lieries were prevented from making
such profits by some act of control.
with maximum profit of 1 0 per cent
in excess of the aggregate pre-war
standard. Under an. order of the
board of trade issued last August, that
arrangement was continued fer a fur
Their period of twelve months.
Early in the current year it was
found that all the mines were being
operated at a huge loss. Under these
circumstances the government decided
to discontinue eentrel of coal finances
the action of the government are OBJ
vieus. They aim at the protection of
the national exchequer against any
further liability than that already in
CURED for the substituting of the coal
trade out of national revenue. That
action was opposed by both the COIL
owners and by the miners. The min
are Ohiactino to~it
the financial decontrol of the indus
try, will disappear their last hope of
the establishment of a natienalized
wage system, with uniform wages pay
able in every coal field in the country,
while the coal owners are antagonis-
tic to deeontro1, partly because it is a
violation of pledge and partly be-
cause it devolves en- them the respon-
sibility for the readjustment of work
ing and labor conditions to an eco
nomic basis. They argue that the gov
ernnent should either itself take off
the wage increases it has put on, be-
fore handing back the collieries to
their proprietors, or it should see the
industry thru the transition period
of an agreed scheme brings wages TO
their proper level.
The miners representatives state
that no scheme will be acceptable to
them which does not provide either
for the complete financial unification
of the Industry, or for a pool out of
which peor collieries would be main
tanned in existence at the expense Of
the richer collieries.
Wages in the September quarter
last year would represent minimum
standard wage of about $500 per an
mum, compared with pre-war average
earning of $4O5 per annum. The
miners, however. are demanding a
much higher minimum standard,
Then, again. the coal owners are ask
ing for the diseontinl 4nce entirely of
the payment of a war wage for idle
days, until such a principle has been
applied bT act of parliament to all in
dustri*s alike; but the miners are urg-
ing that this principle should be main
tanned as a permanent institution in
the industry, as an additional unem-
ployment benefit. Moreover. the
miners aye asking for the financial
unification of the industry for wage
purposes, while the owners arc de-
handing that the new agreement
| should be based on the principle Of
the autonomous district regulation of
wages.
From the foregoing the similarity
of the coal situation in England to
the railroad situation in this country
readily can be seen.