The Washington times., 1922-12-10
|C0A[ BOARD SEEKS
| TO ARB|TRATE WOES
Members Seek Voluntary Par
tIclpation Of Miners and
Operators.
INDIVIDUALS ARE INVITED
Amendments to Law Providing
Authority Is Sought by =
Administration.
BY Universal service.

By Universsl seryice.
Intervention by the United
States Coal Comission in the wage
agreement deadlock between the
coal miners and operators Of the
eastern bituminous fields, with q
view Of mediating and removing
the differences that have arisen,
was announced yesterday by Chair
man John Hays Hammond. The
Commissions action is based on
the belief that another strike Of
the miners IL In prospect on April
!, If new wage agreement is
not worked out before that time.
NO POWER TO FARLEY.
The commission does not have
the power to arbitrate or adtudi-
cate the differences that have
arisen, but with the sanction Of
President Harding an energetic e.
fort viii be made to conciliate the
two factions and establish peace
between them. ~ .
individual operators and officials
of the miners union have been
requested to come to Washington
during the week to confer with
the commission and go over the
entire situation with them. The
discussions VIII be informal and
with only one operator or miner
at a time. A tentative peace plan
win be submitted to them. the
details of which were not an
nounced yesterday.
4lA kxns ka
orators and miners coming to q
earlier last week, and the almost
certain prospect Of q strike at the
expiration Of the present vase
contract on March 81, the commits
sion decided to step into the mat
ter without delay. Immediate 10
sumption Of the conference at Chi
cago or some other point will be
sought by the commission as an
initial step in its Intervention, 1t
was learned yesterday. Mr.. Ham
mond said:
POWERS ADVISORY.
The commissions powers are
purely advisory and mediatory. 1t
has no power under its enabling
act to enforce q decision. But
every effort to mediate these DIFF
ferences and to effect a new wage
agreement to follow the one now
IN existence will be made.
President Harding IL gravely con-
cerned over the deadlock that has
arisen II was stated during the
day and Is anxious that all possible
efforts be made at this time TO
prevent the development OF another
Ia Il a. In frrSR
the strike last spring.
Spokesman Of coal operators de-
scribed the deadlock yesterday As
almost identical with the condition
existing during the strike last
summer.
One operator said:
The strike did not settle any
thing. The settlement ct Cleve-
land In August was only q truce
under which the mem returned to
work, but with both sides still
adherfng to the contentious they
had made before and during the
strike. Unless the deadlock oan
b6 broken and a new agreement
entered into. another strike on
April I win take place.
The work Of the coal commission,
1t was stated yesterday. 10 aimed
primarily to develop essential facts
relative to costs Of production and
mine, operation. sales realixations,
wages and living costs in the coal
fiSlds- rts purpose n to provide an
authoritative basis upon which an
equitable wage contract may be
worked out between the operators
and miners. The commission u with
out authority to enforce It's findings
or make them mandatory on either
side. t
HOPEFUL OF PACT.
The members Of the commission
are hopeful that the series Of oon-
ferences next week. II 10 declared,
both sides to submit voluntarily the
differences to the commission for
arbitration and mediation. or bring
about consent to continue the pres
ent wage contract In existence after
April 1 until such time a. the com.
mission has announced its findings
In the present survey, and outlined
its recommendation in the mattsr.
Among those who will appear be.
fore the commission during the
week, II was learned, 10 John L.
Lewis. president Of the United Mine
Workers; the presidents Of the
State organisations of the miners
In Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and SEQ
tions Of Pennsyavania; Alfred NJ
Ogle, president Of the National Coal
association, and the representatives
Of different groups Of operators In
the Eastern States.