New-York tribune., 1922-09-03
Present Rate of Pay TO
Rule Till Aug. 81, 1928;
Anthracite Commission
Is Asked of Congress-
Union Expected to
Ratify Wednesday
Compromise Already Had
Been Accepted in Prin-
ciple by Its Leaders

agreement to end the protracted an
thracite suspension in the immediate
future was reached by the operators
and miners in late session tonight.
The men will return to work on the
basis of the old wage agreement, TO
extend until August 81, 1928.
The announcement of the agree
ment was made by Senator'S Pepper
and Reed, of Pennsylvania. The
agreement was reached after a COM
munication from President Harding
was received by the parties to the
controversy.
Under date of September l, the
President wrote:
"The public interest transcends
any partisan advantage that you
might gain by further resistance.
urge you in the name Of public well
fare to accede to the proposal that
has been advanced by Senators Pep
per and Reed"
Ends All-Day Session
The announcement came after an aIi-
day session of the operators and a joint
conference of operators and miners in
Senator Peppers office tonight.
The announcement was made at mid
night, when it was simultaneously
communicated to the White House and
the newspapers.
The fixing of August 81, 1923, for the
period of the new contract was COM
promise. The operators wanted the
agreement to expire March 81, 1923,
while the miners desired it extended
to March 81, 1924.
Under the laws of the United Mine
Workers of America, the agreement is
subject to ratification by the miners
scale committee. II will meet in Phiia-
delphia tomorrow, and the convention
will be held at Wilkes-Barre, Pa, on
Wednesday.
Half an hour before the settlement
was signed the operators had announced
acceptance of the Pepper-Reed basis
of peace. That had been approved
previously by the miners.
The peace agreement was negotiated
for the operators by S. D. Warrine4
president of the Lehigh Coal and Navi-
CATION Company; w. J. Richards, presi-
dent of the Philadelphia and Reading
Coal and Iron Company; w. L. Con-
nell and w. w. Inglin, and for the
miners by John l.. Lewis, international
president of the United Mine Workers;
Philip Murray, vice-president; Thomas
J. Kennedy, president District No. 4;
William j. Brennan, president of Dis
trict No. Il: Charles J. Golden, presi-
dent of District No. 8, and James A.
German, secretary.
Even though it is a foregone con-
clusion that the committee will ratify
the agreement, none of the union lead
ers has authority to order the miners
bacak to work until that ratification
is matter of official record.
II is likely that mine foremen, supar-
intendents and certain company men"
and rock falls and otherwise preparing
for the actual cutting of Goals
As late as three hours before the
miners and operators met some of the
union leaders were determined not to
accept anything short of a contract
running TO April /, 1924. They changed
their minds after consultation with the
two Senators.
Text of Resolutions
The resolutions adopted by the oper.
ators read:
Whereas, the anthracite coal pro-
ducing companies for the last five
months have been endeavoring by every
means in their power 70 secure down
ward revision of wages in the interest
Of the public and the industry, and.
Whereas, the enforced period Of
non-production has created a situation
in which the United States government
has now intervened IN order that coal
may be produced and the consumer
supplied, and,
Whereas, the President of the
United States has urgently requested,
lie, that anthracite coal should be pro-
duced, and,
Whereas, Senators Pepper and Reed
on August 20 made specific pro.
posal for the settlement of all mat.
ters in controversy, which proposal
has the Endorsement of the President
therefore be it
Yield Under Protest
Resolved. That while we are still oil
the opinion that anthracite wage:
! should be reduced and that even tn,
present emergency does not justify ths
continuation Of the old scale, we never
| theless, in conformity with the insis
| tent appeals Of the President of tn,
| United States, the Senators from
| Pennsylvania and the public, aecep
the proposal made by Senators Peppe
/ and Reed, as follows;
/ u. The contracts in force March 81
| 1922. to be extended TO August 81
1928;
''2. The production Of coal TO begir
l at once;
8. The organization of operator,
and miners 70 Join in recommends