The New York herald., 1922-09-01
DURATION OF SCALE
DELAYS SETTLEMENT
IN HARD COAL FIELD
Only Public Mandate to
ImpeJ Operators to Go
Beyond April, 1923.
MEN ASK YEAR MORE
Miners to Modify Demands
if Owners Also Will Make
concessions.
CALLED WARTIME WAGE
Producers Do Not Feel Justi-
fled in Paying Scale
Up to 1924.
MEN ASK YEAR MORE
CALLED WARTIME WAGE

PHILADELPHIA Aug. 31.-Only pub
lie mandate" would impel the anthra-
cite operators to pay the miners the
old wage scale beyond next April, said
r. statement issued tonight by the
general policies committee of the
mine owners after an all day confer
ence in this city. They will conform
their action TO such a mandate, said
the statement, but no other reason
would impel them to enter into an
agreement which would continue for
longer than the present emergency
coal prices ito which emphatic OBJ
jectior already has been made"
The operators met 10 consider the
suggestions made to miners and oper-
ators by United States Senators Pep
per and Reed of Pennsylvania in
Washington last Tuesday night. The
suggestions have not been made pub
lie by either side.
The miners also met here to-day
and it is reported from trustworthy
sources that they would favorably con-
slider notifications in their last de-
mand If the operators also made con-
cessions. When the miners adjourned
their conference it was said they
would await the action of the em-
ployers.
To Meet Again Tomorrow.
The operators announced that they
would hold another meeting on Satur-
day and that IN the 1eantims they
would be enabled to canvass the situa-
tlon to obtain, if possible, the views. cf
others as to conditions which would be
fair to all parties concerned.
When the last joint conference broke
up last week the operators had ex-
pressed a willingness to renew the old
wage scale until next April on condi-
tion that the anthracite board of con-
ciliation meet next January TO fix
wages and conditions for the coal year
beginning April /, 1928. II the board
could not agree three impartial citizens
were TO make the decision. The offer
also provided that either side could re-
Ject the findings.
The miners demanded that the old
wage scale be renewed until April J..
1924, without arbitration.
1t is understood that the suggestions
made by the Pennsylvania Senator's
provide, in effect, that the new wage
contract be compromised 50 rs TO ex-
pire about a year from now. thus elimi-
mating the arbitration feature objected
to by the miners.
statement OF Operators.
The statement issued by the oper-
ators said:
I'VE are faced with a demand for a
continuation OF war wages beyond
April /, 1923. In order to bring about
an immediate resumption of mining we
have reluctantly agreed TO continue
the old wages until next April but We
have not felt that we are justified in
going further than that.
THE bituminous miners have gone
back 10 work under the old scale until
next April The anthracite producers
know OF no reason why their men
should not do the same thing and want
to be entirely satisfied that conditions
warrant a longer period Of the old
wages for anthracite miners.
"To continue the war wages beyond
next April inevitably carries with X
Of present prices. The
public has protested against buying at
these prices longer than Is absolutely
necessary. The adjournment taken
to-day was TO enable the operators to
canvass the situation and TO obtain. if
nosslble the views OF others as to the
situation which would be fair TO all
parties concerned. not forgetting those
who buy the product
Public Must Demand II.
.1f the public necessities for coal
and the urgent request OF public au-
thorities are such as to induce US to
continue the old wages beyond April 1,
1929 this demand must come 10 us ~
the form OF a public mandate. We win
conform our action TO such a mandate.
but no other reason would impel us 70
enter into an agreement which Will
continue FOR longer than the present
emergency coal prices TO which en-
phatic objection already has been
made"
The fun membership Of the policies
committee was in session at the offices
az the Philadelphia and Reading Coal
and Iron Company under the chair
manship OF s u warriner, president
Of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation
Company. Beyond the formal state
ment given out, no information was
forthcoming except that the meeting
was harmonious.
No official statement came from thel
miners as result OK the opetators'l
announcement. but leaders nformallyI
said they we're inclined 20 see in thoi
statement q ray Of hope for an early
ending az the hard coal mining sus-
pension. which has now run iiveyfull