Arizona republican., 1922-04-05
Action Seeking Early End
OF Dispute In BituIllinOus
Field Initiated by House
OPERATORS TO BE
INVITED TO MEET
WITH UNION MEN

WASHINGTON. April "A con-
/ gressiOnal effort at settlement OF the
/ coal strike, particularl- is it involves
| the bituIhinous fields was begun to-
/ day when Chairman Nolan OF the
/ house labor committee was author
fzed to telegraph invitations to
number Of representative operators IN
/ the central competitive coal field 10
attend a meeting with the miners
union leaders in washington April 10
and attempt to reach an agreement.
At the same time, Senator Borah.
Republican of Idaho, took occa sion to
say in the senate that drastic pub
lie action might be demanded. and
to charge the operators with contract
breaking in precipitating the strike
To Oppose Price Increases
A possible divergence between the
views of members of congress and
those OF the administration, however.
was seen when Attorney General
Daugherty issued a statement reiter-
ating that "the government is not
undertaking to do anything in the
present situation of the coal natter
declaring that "men have a right to
quit work and men have a right TO
employ other men, that the public
was not menaced with coal shortage,
and that it was the duty of local au-
thorities to maintain order.
The government would not look
with favor upon coal price increases
Mr.. Daugherty said, adding that he
saw no reason at this time to believe
that disorder might be feared but
assorted that the government viii
perform whatever may be its duty
ip the premises if local and state
agencies cannot maintain peace.
The ho4,ca rf41af1aiffao arfs0., 20 s,44>
after its members had spent two davs
listening to its discussion of the strike
from the miners viewpoint BY John
l.. Lewis, president Cf the United
Mine Workers. Mr.. Lewis assured
the committee be would advise his
associates to negotiate with any
representative group OF operators
from the central field. which includes
Illinois, Indiana. Ohio and western
Pennsylvania, even though not all
the operators could be induced to
deal agan with the union. The union.
he insisted. would not and could not
settle the dispute in other states un-
til this basis had been established for
a national wage level.
Consider Move Encouraging
The committee decided to appeal
direct TO the representatives OF oper-
ators' groups in the states named
and Mr.. Lewis tonight declared 1T
had put forward a proposition worth
considering
However, have no notion Of what
the operators Will do" he said. Dur
ing the hearings today Mr.. Lewis de-
Tended the miners, union proposal to
establish a six-hour day and five
day week, one of the demands orig
inally made. scouting as absurd a
calculation by Representative Black
Democrat OF Texas. that this would
occasfon an extra annual cost OF
$244000, 900 TO the public for coal.
Discussing the history Of wage ne
gotiations. Mr.. Lewis amplified the
repeated charge that the bituminous
operators or the central field had
broken a contract with the miners
union In falling 10 confer with IFS
committee for new wage scale be-
fore the strike The fact, he said, in
agreeing to a suggestion by Repre-
sentative London, Socialist, New
York. really gave the strike all the
apect OF a lockotft.n
In reply to questions from Repre-
sentative Black, Mr.. Lewis said the
best day wage in coal mining under
present conditions was $3.50 a, day,
compared with S2.S4 in 1913. but the
scale in the latter year, he added,
twas pauper standard"
The house committee contemplates
further inquiry into the coal indus
try, with testimony from both opera
tors and miners. and is expected to
continue its hearing tomorrow.