New-York tribune., 1922-03-29

the operators voluminous data gath
cred among 300 business men and other
sources in the hard coal fields, bearing
on the cost of living there in It's re-
lation to the wages the anthracite MN
ers receive. The introduction OF TINS
matter was in support of the men
demands for 20 per cent increase for
contract workers and 81 a day for day
men.
According 10 Philip Murray, vice
president Of the United Mine Workers,
the evidence was gathered chif1y from
such mining centers as Scranton,
Wilkes Barre. Hazelton. Shamokin and
Shenandoah. All the more important
ito ems introduced were questioned by
the operators and discussions resulted.
% F. G. Increase Since July, 1920
"The exhibits put forward" said Mr..
Murray. "showed that the cost Of the
main necessities Of life in the hard
coal region food, rent, lighting, doc
tors fees, medicine. and SO on has in
creased on the whole fully 25 per cent
since July, 1920 The entire survey
made was based on comparisons for
1919, 1920, 1921 and 1922.
"While our figures showed that there
has been a decrease in prices OF pota-
toes, -four, sugar and some other
staples, increases arc snOWn IN 'ndhy
other articles of food since July, 1920
Rents, these figures prove, have IN
creased over 60 per cent and taxes So
per cent While the prices Of shoes
and clothing decreased somewhat dur
ing part of 1920 and 1921, there has
been an upward trend in such prices
of late
On behalf Of the operators, Samuel
D. Warriner, president of the Lehigh
Coal Navigation Co., and a leading
member of the sub scale committee.
said he believed that real progress to-
ward settlement has been made in the
negotiations, but that he could not pre-
dict how long this condition would last
Asked as to how great wage cut the
operators contemplate asking, if they
are to suggest specific reductions, he
indicated that an answer at this time
would be premature.
Differ on Economic Basis
"What both the miners and we are
seeking is the best possible agreement,
taking into account all the economic
factors in the stuation,' Mr.. Warriner
added. "However, it appears that we
may have different theories of econo-
mics. Our theory is that all interests
those of the public, the miners and
operators-c best be conserved by
our product freely at price the public
can pay"
Asked for an estimate as to the an
| thracite supply above ground on April
/, he replied that he had "never before
known when there were such ample
coal stocks, both nthracite and btu
minous, throughout the country" The
largest hard coal reserve stocks, he
said, were of the steam sizes, especially
pea and buckwheat.
Mr. Warriner denied report that
the operators had made an offer to the
miners that should they call off the
work suspension order the wage scale
agreed on would be made retroactive
to April /. He said that "inasmuch as
we believe firmly that a reduction
must come" the miners would be CON
fronted by additional reductions in
their pay through the operation Of
such u measure, and that this would
| not promote good feeling"
Mr. Warriner joined issue with Sam
uel Gompers, president of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, on the latter's
charge that in 96 per cent Of the an
thracite industry ownership of the
mines, railroads and distributing agen-
cles Is so closely linked as to co nsti-
tute an arbitrary control of markets
and prices.
Illegal Combines Dissolved
Mr. Gompers is very far from the
facts Mr.. Warriner asserted Court
records show that the government has
dissolved mine-rail combines held to be
illegitimatc, and this process has been
continued. | would say that through
out the industry not more than 65 to
10 per cent of the coal is hauled by
| roads III any way connected with min
! ing. Ny company, which is one of the
largest, has no such affiliations and
we are selling every pound of coal we
produce direct to retail dealers"
Steamship officials displayed no anx-
iety over the therat of the union long
shoremen that they may refuse to
handle British coal during the strike
The shipping men said that only con
siderable increase in prices in this
country could induce an extensive flow
Of coal from the United Kingdom. In
addition, it was asserted that ma
chlnery, and not the longshoremen, is
used to do most Of the coal unloading
here.