Norwich bulletin., 1922-11-20

output. while the miners said normal competition could be trusted to regu- late the whole subject.
 The operators letter contended em- phaticaIly that the anthracite industry should be considered as separate and autonomous" from the bituminous in- dustry, to prevent it from becoming "as it has in the past, the victim of labor disputes with which it is in no way con cerned." It reserved answers on number of queries propounded by tha commission to give more study ts them.
 We are unconvinced of the wisdom or, practicability of attempting to stand ardize the cost of living for individual workers" the letter said, "or of stand ardizing the amount of work they are to perform for such standardization would necessarily ignore individual abilities and requirements. Human be- ings cannot be standardized. Neither the wages of mine workers or of any other groups of workers can be considered independently of other | wages. At the present time mine work CTS are receiving a scale of wages far above that paid in other industres, with the result that the workers III these other industries are paying trio'
 
 of such a condition cannot fail to have disastrous results upon the anthracite i industry. and therefore upon those em' ploye din it. = l ..For, 20 years prior to 1922, tAe pro 1 ducers of anthracite have dealt upon ar | established basis with their employees and the organizations representing them through a medium of conference ana agreement.
 We suggest that the commission
 should ascertai nthe labor policy of the
 operators and likewise ascertain the la bor policy of the United Mine Workers with respect to the anthracite industry, including their fundamental aims. tna
 methods pursued by them and the ex- tent. if any, to which the policy oi either is detrimental to the industry and therefore to the interes Of he pup lie"
 I In the matter of goal prices the op- orators said that one of the many sources of misunderstanding is' the great difference between the mine prlcs and the consumers price, the latter in- cInding expenses of transportation and l charges of middlemen and retailers.
 over which the operators. have no con
 trcl.
 fl The commission, it suggested, shoula Investigate all these items. Anthracite
 mining. it was said briefly. Is not suo-
 feet to irreguIarity. while the metnods followed in 1t result in only negligible
 waste of coal.
 HIt would be nianifestly unconstitu' ltional for this government to eiiminate any number of coal mines from opera
 ton by any sort of selective process; the miners letter saids unless thfs car l. sHz rrN ment of open competition. In order uei such competition might be encouraged we suggest that every effort should bs
 made to improve transportation tfaeili'
 ties.
 eve do believe. however. and ve rec , omnend to this commission, that som' ] means be found to prevent the sopenint up of any new mines in the Unitef States at least for a considerable per , iod of time. There are too many mine. in this country now
 living" and %work output" suggest5cn'
 of the commission. the union, committee
 indicated disfsvor. ~
 How this commission can hope. t' standardize the cost of living without a the same time standardfzing the sleve of living of mine workers is beyond thi comprehension of this committee. tn , letter said. "It seems to us h woub | be impossible to standsrdize the cos !, of living unless each individual. min
 .worked was required to accept an'
 adopt a standard: identical level of liy 4 ing fer himself and his family. Any al ; tempt to establish such a standard
 would out-soviet any system, either pa , Pternalistfc or scohmunistic, that VI know of. . . What might be regard ed as a standard of work in one plac would be afigrant nisnt In another.