The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-07-10
COMMISSION
ON Mine PAY,
HARDING PLAN
President Proposes Miners Go
Back to Work at Old Wages
While Body to be Created
Studies Industry.
BACKED BY AUTHORITY
(Ry Associated PressD


WASHINGTON, July 10.-Definitely
assured that neither the operators nor
the miners in the bituminous and an
thracite coal districts where work is
now suspended could effect a compro-
mise alone which could reopen the
mines, President Harding laid before
representatives of the industry today
a proposal for immediate settlement
of the strike which he gave notice
would be backed by the full power Of
the legislative as well as the execu-
tive
The proposal provides immediate
return to work of miners now on
strike on the basis of the wages be-
fore they went on strike April / and
the setting up of an arbitration com
mission composed of three miners,
three operators and five representa-
tives of the public which commission
would be required Aug. 10 to fix a
temporary scale of wages.
Congress would be asked to EN-.
power such a body, the president said
to go into the mining situation. de.
yelop thoroughly labor costs and pro
duction, and to report plans for stabil
izing the industry and assuring a pub
lie coal supply
Secretaries Attend
Four cabinet members, Secretaries
Hoover, Davis and Fall and Attorney
General Daugherty, were with the
president when the industrial repre-
sentatives we're given the president
plan, Neither group, miners nor oper
ators, were asked to return an imme
diate reply.
John L. Lewis, president of the min
ers' union. summoned his associate:
TO meet at o'clock for the purpost
Of discussing the offer, while Alfred
NJ. Ogle, chairman of the operators
section, and his associates met imme
diately and then adjourned to allow
a larger gathering of operators no
previously in the conference.
The presidents proposal did no
touch upon the iusistepce of the min
ers' union for a national settlement
nor upon the demands of the oper
atcrs for wage negotiations in theil
own districts. but apparently left thu
whole question open.
Davis Reads Proposal
The conference of bituminous Goa
operators and officials of the miners
union adjourned its session today t
go directly to President Harding a
the White House. Participants salt
they had been unable to reach an,
agreement Secretary Davis, on be
\ half of the government it was learned
read to the Joint conference before
adjourned a proposal that a commit
tee of six operators and six miner
be appointed to outlying districts il
the bituminous coal area, in whicl
negotiations could be set up betweel
the operators and miners, the govern
ment assuming responsibility for dis
agreements and differences that coul
not be settled.
Itwas evident that both sides ha
found the proposition unacceptable.
was learned from White House visitor
that President Harding had in mind
definite offer of government arbitrs
ton and was prepared to devote III
limited time to bring about a settle
ment.
VIII Be Firm.
Failing in this the White House cal
er said the president had determine
to strong measures to bring about
settlement
On the arrival of the conferes g
the executive offices it was arrange
that A. NJ. Ogle, chairman of the col
ference and the operators represents
tive should see the president first an
that the miners would be calld in in
mediately after Separate meeting
were to be held in the Intern and tn
anthracite operators and miners wer
called to take part in the conferenc
between the bituminous miners and th
president