The New York herald., 1922-04-05
House Labor Committee
Wires Appeal to Owners
to Reach Agreement.
BORAH RAPS OPERATORS
Accusing Them Of Breaking
Contract, Senator Talks Of
Government Regulation.

WASHINGTON, April A Congress
sional effort at settlement Of the coal
strike, particularly as it involves the
bituminous fields, was begun to-day
when Chairman Nolan of the House
Labor Committee was authorized to
telegraph invitations to representa-
tive operators and officers of opera
tors associations in the central COM
petitive coal field to attend a meeting
with the miners union leaders In
Washington April ID and attempt to
reach an agreement.
At the same time Senator Borah
(Rep., Idaho) said in the Senate that
drastic public action" might be de-
manded, and charged the operators
with contract breaking in precipitat-
ing the strike.
Senator Borah said he was aware the
original contract had been changed. but
not In respect to the agreement for a
conference last month. Even II there
Lad been no such contract. he added. the
operators and owners should have sought
q conference.
THE mine owners owed it to the pub
lic." he said, ito use their utmost efforts
to bring about a conference and an un-
derstanding. If the miners had refused
then the criticism would have been upon
them. The contractual relations between
the mine owners and miners seem to
have bec broken down.. II has reached
she poin, where the public. In defense
OF itself. must take some drastic meas
les in order to control this great In
dustry.
Borah Attacks Operators.
The Idaho Senator said 1t was re-
sponsibility of Congress to find remedies
for such serious situations" and added
that the obligation rested largely on the
party in power. He gaid the operators
had invited drastic action by Congress.
but that there were many steps ION this
side Of public ownership which could be
taken properly. Regulatory measures.
arbitration programs and other iegisla
tive moves could be worked out. he
argued, to "check this controversy which
tears up the Industrial life Of the country
from year to year.
The attitude OF the operators. Senator
Borah declared. had forced the miners
either to 60 on strikeeor submit to dicta-
fion OF their wage scales.
"That is not a condition to which the
American public will submit he con-
tinued. "They will neither permit the
man who works In the mine to control
the industry nor permit the man who
owns the mine to control and dictate to
the worker.
"The third party in this conflict. the
public, is largely lost sight of. 1t must
in the end bear the brunt of the loss
finally in the increased cost of coal or
wages"
A possible divergence between the
Views of members of Congress and those
of the Administration, however, was seen
when Attorney General Daugherty Is
sued statement reiterating that "the
Government Is not undertaking to do
anything in the present situation of the
coal matter declaring that 'men have
a right to quit work and men have a
right to employ other men," that the
public was not menaced with coal short
age. and that 1t was the duty of local
authorities to maintain order.
Government. TO Preserve Peace.
The Government would not look with
favor upon coal price increases, Mr.
Daugherty said. adding that he saw
no reason at this time to believe that
disorder need be feared" but asserting
tina. the Government will perform
whatever may be It's duty In the prem
ises," if local and States agencies can
not maintain peace.
The House committee action came
after it's members had spent two days
listening to discussion OF the strike by
John l.. Lewis, president of the United
Mine Workers. who assured the COM
nittec he would advise his associates
10 negotiate with any Representative
group" Of operators from the central
field. which includes Illinois. Indiana.
Ohio and western Pennsylvania
The committee decided to appeal direct
10 the representative of the operators
groups in the States named. and MIR.
Lewis tonight declared II had put for
ward n proposition worth consderine."
During the hearing to-day Mr.. Lewis
defended the unions proposal TO estab-
lish a six hour day and five day week.
ono OF the demands originally made.
scouting as absurd" n calculation by
Representative Black (Tex.). Democrat.
that this would occasion an extra annual
cost OF s244.00o.oo0 to the public for
coal.
In repIy TO questions from Represen-
tatiyo Black. Mr.. Lewis said the ''basc
day wage" in coal mining under present
basic conditions was $3.50 per day. COM
pared with s2.s4 In 1918. but the scale
in the latter year. he added, was
'pauper standard
~-rrrators Against Conference.