The Washington herald., 1922-07-16
oor.snses rom Paps one. !.

discussion of collective bargaining
and the right to organize nonunicn
fields
The miners policy committee will
meet again tomorrow to consider
the Presidents interpretations.
white House statement. z
The White House Issued the fol-
lowing statement on the miners re-
fusal:
The President net the policy
committee of,the United Mine Work.
ers and received the written -decli :
nation to accept the voluntary plan
proposed for the settlement of the
dispute which is responsible for
suspension Of mining activities.
There will be no announcement
OF any government plan to relieve
the situation until the response OF
the bituminous operators is re-
ceived.
at is expected to have their
report Monday morning. The Presi-
dent did not comment to the mine
workers committee on the decision
reported. except to say that he
hoped they fully appraised the re-
sponsibility they. assumed ir de-
cIining the government offer of a
means Of an instant adjustment
and the resumption of mining"
OmciaI Interpretation.
The ofifcial Interpretation of the
arbitration. proposal. as given in a
letter by Mr.. Harding to- A. NJ. Ogle,
president, OF the National Coal AS
. ISOLATION: S. ID. Warriner, presi=,
dent OF the Anthracite Coal Asso-
citation; John L. Devils. of the
United Mine Workers, reads as
follows:
"Since / rendered to you in joint
session at the Executive Offices on
Monday, July 10. certain proposals
for the arbitration of the coal dis
pute., and since there have: been
numerous inquiries and several in,
formal conferences in the inter-
vening time, aimed at clearer un-
derstanding. / have thought it de-
sirable to place before you, in
writing, such Interpretation OF the
general proposal as l have sought
informally and in verbal state
ments to convey. These definite
interpretations do not in any way
stlttliN liit llldt IpopOSdl. OuI
will serve to Clarity such doubts
Of construction : as. have been ex-
pressed. and leave no possibility of
Misunderstanding.
Three Successive Stages.
The program contemplates three
successive stages. as follows:
First. That the mine workers re-
turn TO work under the same terms
and conditions as, those which gov
erned each case on last March 81,
This incIudesrthe check-off. r.
Second. 1t is the intent that the
temporary arrangement above shall
remain in force for only during the
shortest period that may be required
for a determination of terms and con-
ditions of labor for the period ending.
March l.. 1928. I have emphasized
this by suggesting that the wage scale
shall be determined by August TO-
1922, with authority in the commits
sion to extend that period by such
number Of days as may be required.
Its earliest determination is very nee
essary in order that contracts and
estimates involved in business trans
action may become settled and it is
understood that all questions of dis
Dult as 10 VI vi any
other points of friction between op-
orators and employees, who are parties
to this arrangement shall be deter
mined by the commission. and such
settlement shall hold until the first OF
March, 1873.
May Extend Time.
These devisiOns may also require
more time than August 10, and. there
fore the commission is to have au-
thority to extend time for settlement
/ of each or any of these questions as
/ it finds to be necessary.
Third. That the commission, m
I recommending an establishment for
maintenance of industrial peace in the
coal industry, will be expected TO
bring in such recommendations in time
10 allow for their use in the settle
uent OF relations after the first of
March, 1923. They are to be recon-
mandatory and are not binding.
The President will ask of Con-
Eress. as soon as the House Is recon-
vcned in August for a grant to the
| commission of the necessary legal
powers to make an exhaustive in
uuiry into the coal industry. in order
to acquire the needed information up
on which to formulate plans to avoid
future suspension of production.
Basis of Agreement.
''In order to clarity what shall con-
stitute a commitment to the plan
have proposed. let it be understood
/ that. as to the bituminous fields, the
basis of agreement in national dis
putes has hithertoo been agreements
| between the United Mine Workers
-NWnI NJ
petitive fields. Therefore, the ac-
ceptance of this offer by the United
/ Mine Workers and by the operators
shall be deemed complete and binding
when United Mine Workers and the
operators. parties to the central COM
petitive field agreement. which ex-
pired on March. 81. have accepted 1t.
The other bituminous mines which are
now idle because of strike or sns-
pended operation. are expected to ad-
here to the plan. and comply with the
decisions of the commission. but their
action in no way affects the validity
of the agreement to the plan.
THE the anthracite field the ac-
ceptance of this offer by the United
Mine Workers on one side and the
Anthracite Operators Association on
the other, shall render it effective
II the mine workers and operators
gree. there shall be a separate com
mission,
at Isl understood that all decisions
by the commission must be reached
by a majority vote thereof, and all
decisions shall be binding to all
parties to the agreement until March
l, 1928.
,'wARREN G. HARDING.
g.. Nal - Corr mis- sfOu