New-York tribune., 1922-05-26
Miners Reject
Wage Cut and
Ask 2O% Raise
Anthracite Men Flally Re-
fuse Operators Propo-
sal: Demand Support
in Plea for L. s. Probe
Attack Concealed Profits
Say Price of Coal Could
Be Cut S. a Ton bv
Preventing Monopoly

Flat rejection Of the demand Of The
anthracite operators for q q per cent
reduction in wages was given the mine
owners last night by representatives Of
The hard coal miners whom the joint
committee Of both sides, which has
been conducting negotiations for new
agreement, met in the Union League
Club after an adjournment of more
than week.
Coupled with this refusal Of the
operators proposal the miners spokes-
men insisted that the operators give
further consideration to tire mine
workers demands for wage increase
Of 90 per cent and for institution of
me "eight-hour da underground in the
lndustrr. The miners also laid en-
phasis on a reiteratiou of their request
that the operators join them in de-
mandinc p Federal investigation of the
production and sales costs of anthra-
cite.
In the reply handed the operators,
which was lengthy, the miners charged
that the operators maintain monopoly
profits" are obtained through the pro
duction and sale Of anthracite.
ITO accept the proposal Of the op
orators. reads portion or the reply,
would be to permit the degradation Of
the miners in order that the consumers
Of coal may continue TO be unconscion-
ably exploited 80 the amount Of at least
s. a ton by the anthracite monopoly
Operators Make No Comment
The operators representatives on the
committee received the miners answer
without comment, and there was no
general discussion Of the document 1t
was reported that they met later by
themselves 20 arrive at a basis for
such discussion to-day, when the com
mittee again viii meet.
The first paragraph Of the reply sum
marlzes tne miners attitude.
After complete study and analysis
O., your arguments and supporting
data" it reads, I'VE have to inform you
that we find ourselves unable to accept
YOUR propositions and must insist upon
Ii further consideration of our original
requests for changes in the standards
Of work and compensation which now
prevail in the industry"
Reminding the operators that eve
are pYofundly impressed with the i'm
portauco of the fact that there is
rhird croup whose interests are at
stake, composed Of the general public ="
ana decialng that the miners "agree
with you completely" that any inflated
costs due TO the war should be elimi-
mated and corresponding price reduc-
lions made, the document goes on to
say:
we have repeatedly, during the
course of our conferences, sought your
cooperation in requesting complete
investigation by the Interstate Com
mcrce Commission and the Federal
Trade Commission with the practical
end in view of ascertaining and elimi-
mating excess costs Of production and
distribution.
"In this connection, We have sub
mittod for your consideration unim-
ueacnable evidence that the price Of
anthracite coal to the domestic con
sumer could he reduced at least S5 a
ton lf We could secure your support in
practical measures Tor lowering freight
rates To just and reasonable level,
and in preventing the exacton of need
less and indcfensible monopoly profits
and charges ma the distribution of the
anthracite coal supply
Attach "Concealed Profits"
The reply then launches into "con-
cealed profits The profits derived
from three sources, and are in large
part concealed from the public" They
are held to be obtained from three
sources, as follows:
\. From the direct mining of coal.
-. From the ownership Of anthra-
cite coal-carrYinE railroads, which CON
troI producing companies mining
1our-ttths of the output of The mines,
and which. ln order to obtain large hnt
I4I
prevent competition from independent
producers, have imposed grossly eXces-
sive freight rats on coal
,. From the maintenance by the
large operators or coal mining com
panles of separately organized coal
sales companies. through which an
added heavy tribute is placed upon the
distribution of coal
The reply recites that 4 very large
number OF the mine workers. the dav
men, earn at most but S1.134 a wear
far below tho lowest estimate of tho
amount necessary for worker and his
family Placing into operation Of the
cut, 1t Us declared, would reduce this
to $50 n year. Proposal Of this is
held to he almost incredible and com
pietely at variance with all the social
mora and human standards Of the
present day"
Your proposed reductions would not
cause reduction IN the price Of coal. "
1t goes on. present high prices can-
not be attributed to any past increase
IN wage rates, for the labor cost Of a
ton Of coal is now only $3.50. whereas
the increase IN retail price since 1913
has been from SIS to $40 Il ton"
The document also definitely rejected
fhe operators suggestion for five
Year agreement, with yearly wage re
VISIONS subject to appeal to third
group. The reply set forth that this
would involve compulsory arbitration
and would determine "a price for Ia
bor' - commodity. without consid-
Grafton OF human Standards
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