Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-04
Operators Ranks
Reported Broken

Continued from PsEe One
would forbid the development Of new
fields until the present fields are worked
ont. It would halt the existing condi-
tion of over development. bring pro-
duction to balance demand, and elm
mate the excess labor now engaged in
the coal industry"
Washington. April 4.-,By a. P.)--
The miners strike in oil union districts.
both anthracite md bituminous, f. 100
per cent effective. John l.. Lewis. prcsi :
dent Of the United Mine Workers, de-
clnrcd today after going over reports to
him from union leaders.
Every man ordered out mas gone
out. and is staying out" Mr.. Lewis
declared. From the non union dis.
tricts, where we have hopes OF sympa =
thctic action by unorganizcd men, my
reports arc insufficient TO allow me to
mnke statement
Mr.. Lewis. continuing his testimony
today before the House Labor Commit =
tee. described the mincls' demands fer
n six hour day and five day week---is. Z.
sues involved in the Strike--aS largely
Il move to force regularity of employ t.
nlcnt.
"Men employed by the day he said,
would receive the same wages they are
now getting, and put in less time, but
the miners who dig coal would be paid
rs they are now for tho number of tonS
Of coal they produce.
Representative Black. Democrat.
Texas, calculated that if the nve-day,
six hour demand WAS granted "thc pub :.
lie would pay S2i4 900 900 additional
for the same amount Of coal they ar"
now getting each year.
Engage in Cross Fire
WHO will that come out Of" Mr..
Black demanded after figuring up his
total.
"Nobod,." Mr.. Lewis rctorted. ''hr-
cause your figures are aOsurd. l cdi
follow yurr lncntal gyrations on this
subject in the field of muthetmatlcs."
Mr.. Black pressed his calculations.
Congressman. when the twelve hour
day was changed TO the ten hour day. y
Mr.. Lewis interrupted. 'the efficiency
was increased. and the production per
man per day increased. The same of
feet continued when the ten hour day
was cut to eight hours. The efficiency
increased more than sufficient to make
up the logs. The fact has been Nuthori-
tutively determined and universally
recognized
II cant figure out how you can OK
pect the production TO increase Mr..
Black said. after YOU have reduced
the hours Of work down below reason
able basis
I'D like to point out that we are
willing to discuss all these demands
around n council table with operators. y
Mr.. Lewis returned. "and then If We
cannot show them to be reasonable we
won't expect to press them
Not Tied to Cost Of Living
Mr.. Black declared that "while
wages of anthracite miners now can
purchase IS per cent more than they
could in 1920. the purchasing power Of
the farmer In my territory has beer
cut 80 per cent since 1920 and asked
Mr.. Lewis:
do you think that industrial anc
transportation workers can long with
stand the pressure to have them rake
some Of the loss too!'
1t is well to remember that during
the war farmers got the advantage o.
great imitation in their prices an(
profits" Mr.. Lewis replied. "whil'
we contend that mine workers wer'
never able to get the full increases il
! living cost represented in their wag'
advances
Mr.. Black advanced the suggestion
that considering the present level OF
prices. mine wage scales were far above
1913 in their buying power.
Even if that is So Mr.. Lewis r".
piled. 1.-THE miners have never accepte,
the principle that wage increases SHOULD
be tied down TO the bars of cost of liv.
ing. That theory would chain worker!
to II fixed economic level for always
Miners day wages in 1913 Mr.. Lewi'
estimated at Ssh, while the ''busi'
day wage under present conditions
,'u,nI Of fl