The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-07-11
Arbitration
by
Hardi a ng.
Would Have Miners Return
TO Work at Wages Received
April l Pending Negotia.
ton of New Scale.
Prompt Answer Is Asked

Washington, July lo.-(By A. P.)
President Harding submitted today
to the bituminous and anthracite
operators and miners, gathered here
IN conference, a proposal that the
miners return to work at the wage
scale in existence when work was
suspended on April /, and continue
to work on that scale until August
10, meanwhile an arbitration board
being appointed to negotiate a new
wage scale.
The commission as outlined by
the president would consist OF three
members appointed by the United
Mine Workers OF America, three ap-
pointed by the operators and five
representatives OF the public named
by the president. The operators
and miners were understood to have
been asked to give their response to
the proposal by tonight.
The arbitration commission would
be expected to have its award ready
by August 10, but if unable to ar
range a new scale by that date the
scale which expired April l would
be continued from August 10 to
April /, 1923.
In Form of Letter.
President Hardings proposals were
put before the operators and miners
union officials i'll the form of letter
and both sides in the bitumnous in
dustry left the White House to con-
slider them at separate meetings. The
anthracite operators and miners re-
manned. however.
In outlining his proposal for gov
ernment arbitration, President Har-
ding said:
The information has come to NE
that your conference is deadlocked,
or, at the best, attempting to agree on
plans which will require extended
time to work out. l have said here
tofore that the government prefers
you who are parties to the dispute
should settle it among yourselves be-
cause you best understand all the
problems involved. The government
cannot settle it for you. 1t will force
no man to work against his free will,
it will force no man to employ men
against the free exercise of an en-
ployer's rights. The government will
MT be partisan, but the government
is concerned with coal production suf-
fcient to meet the industrial and
transportation requirements of the
country and to safeguard against a
fuel famine when winter comes again,
and it is desired to have production
resumed at once.
your government does desire to
be helpful"
The commission then was outlined
and the president continued:
THE commission shall investigate
exhaustively every phase of the coal
industry. 1t shall reveal every cost
OF production and transportation. The |
president will ask congress to con-
fer authority for the most thorough
investigation and make appropria-
tons necessary to do such work. The
commission shall make recommenda-
tions looking to the establishment
and maintenance of industrial peace
in the coal industry, the elimination
o. waste due to intermittency and
instability and suggest plans for de-
pendable fuel supply.
II have taken this short cut to a
resumption of operations because l
believe it to be to the interest of the
public welfare. 1t is that simple form
OF adjusting disputes which answers
the call of good conscience and just
civilization. When two great forces
do not agree there must be a peace
full way to adjustment and such an
arbitration opens the way.
Il do not expect agreement with
out due consideration. Please take
the proposal to separate conferences.
I wish you to appraise the situation,
observe your responsibilities and then
answer this proposal as you wish to
be appraised by American public
opinion. l am speaking first of all
in tie public interest, but am like
wise mindful OF the rights OF both