The New York herald., 1922-03-18
ANTHRACITE WAGES
| MUST COME DOWN
Operators Deliver Ultimatum,
but Arrange Final Farley
With Men.
CERTAIN WALK0UT SEEN
Both Sides Hopeful of Agree
ment Which Will Block
Long Strike.

The question or strike In the an
thracite coal fields is now in the hands
OF committee OF four operators and
four officers of the United Mine Work
ers appointed yesterday in a joint con-
ference in the Pennsylvania Hotel. The
committee will begin its tussle at . P. M.
next Tuesday and will continue in ses-
sion in New York until an agreement is
reached or is found unreachable.
The operators served notice that wages
must come down and that this matter
takes precedence over all others. They
insisted wage reduction must be the
first step toward making coal cheaper
Tor the consumer and stablizing the in
dustry. They did not say how great the
cut should be.
The miners accepted the challenge and
will enter the committee meetings with
figures intended to prove not only that
cheaper coal can be sold to the public
without cut at the mine but that
operators profits and the miners living
costs justify a wage increase of 20 per
cent.
dence in the intention of the other to
bring about an agreement but no one
was willing to predict settlement could
he effected in time TO avert a shutdown
on April /, when the term of the exist
ing contract ends. 1t is generally con-
ceded there will be shutdown and that
ii will last for several weeks.
Members of the negotiating commit
tees are: For the operators, w. L. Con-
,,a1I cran , a sra1 Cor
ton: S. d. Warriner, Lehigh Coal and
Navigation Company, Philadelphia; W.
j. Richards, Philadelphia and Reading
Coal and Iron Company, Pottsville; w.
W. Inglis, Glen Alden Coal Company,
Scranton: for the United Mine Workers.
John L. Lewis. president, and the three
district presidents, w. ]. Brennan,
Thomas Kennedy and Chris j. Golden
Alvan Markle of Hazleton was elected
chairman and James A. German Of
Hazleton secretary, both without voting
power
The operators reply to the unions
nineteen demands was read in the joint
conference by Mr.. Warriner, chairman
of their general policies committee.
THE consuming public" he said, is
largely composed OF wage earners in
other industries. who have already ac-
cepted substantial decreases in their
anu VINO CdIllOl COHlllu6 10
pay present pricess in order that the
workmen in the anthracite field may
hold their present scale OF wages.
The operators are ready to consider
and discuss any proposition relating to
wages and working conditions submitted
by either party. Any adjustment which
Us not satisfactory to the buyer must in
evitably fail. for in that event produc-
tion cannot be distributed and the miner
IL.
ployment. The interest of all parties
will best be conserved by steady work
for the miner. maximum production at
the mines and the widest possible mar
bet for the product. To assure this a
reasonable cost of production is neces-
sary.
Anthracite labor is the only group in
tins country which has not sustained a
decrease in wages In line with the gen.
eral readjustment in other industries,
nor has IL suffered material decline in
the opportunity for steady work.
Deflation in the cost of production
20 per cent of which is represented by
mine labor. is imperative. The anthra-
cite operators after most careful thought
can see no alternative. Readjustment Of
wage rates is the first necessary step
TO reduce the cost OF anthracite to the
consumer and to insure continued sta
1T Is obvious. then that prosperity
and steady work in the anthracite fields
must cease unless the price of anthracite
coal can be reduced to a figure which
the consumer can pay"
In the tenor Of this statement Presi-
dent Lewis of the union said he saw hope
of a possible agreement. 1t was in
marked contrast with the attitude of the
bltuminous operators. he said.
But" he added. there is no justifi-
cation for the fact the public pays nearly
five times the labor cost for its coal
and we will show the fault lies with the
operators. not with the miners. The
cost of anthracite should have come
down before this time. The cost OF
machinery and all supplies used at the
mines has come down, and the operators
have failed to give the public the benefit.
Reduction of wages in other industries
is no reason for miners reduction. Their
present schedule is below that OF the
Luminous mines. We are prepared TO
show their increases during the war
failed to keep pace with the cost Of
living"
MIR. warriner said he could not indi-
cate TO what degree a wage cut might
lower the cost OF coal to the public. 1T
costs $3.50 on the average TO produce a
ron of anthracite at the mine." he said.
''and of this 10 per cent. Is labor cost.
Forty per cent. Of the coal mined is Of
tuckwheat size and we have to sell Il
below cost and make II up on larger
] sizes. The average price we get at the
, ,nine for stove and nut coal is IS ton.
The difference between that figure and
| what the consumer pays is due to
freight. terminal, barge and other
charges. all elements Of which must como
dOxyp