New-York tribune., 1922-01-20
Operators of Bituminous
Mines to Cut Pay Scale
Expiring April L; En-.
ployces Demand Raise
Federal Officials
Peace Efforts Fail
Union Rejects Proposal to
Arbitratc; Government
Is Not Unduly Alarmed

WASHINGTON. Jan. 1o.--Warn,nr
OF an impending general strike in the
country's coal industry vas given to-
day by Secretary Hoover. who declared
that the public should know what to
expect when the national agreement.
covering the wages and working con-
dltions OF miners.cxpirc April I. THE
stage he said, appears to be set for
strike in the bituminous coal regions
about the last Of March"
Mr.. Hoover did not indicate what the
governments plans for meeting such
an emergency were, but said there had
been no conferences between represent
atlves OF the Administration and the
miners and operators for about six
weeks and no further discussions look
ing toward adjustment OF controvcrted
questions were scheduled at this time
by the government.
No Undue Alarm Over Situation
While he did not discuss what the
govcrnm ent's attitude might be in the
event OF a general coal strike, the i'm
precision was gained that the Admins
tratlon was regarding without undue
alarm the possible approach OF such a
strike situation.
As the time has approached for the
construction of new wage scales and
working contracts between the miners
and employees in the union fields
negotiations have twice been set on
foot between the mine workers and the
employers. with Mr.. Hoover, as the
representative Of the government, TAX
ing tentative part. Operators in the
union fields, declaring that non-union
coal producing territory has been TAX
ing an increasing proportion Of the
business, have announced their pur-
pose of reducing wages when the con-
tract expires, while John L. Lewis, as
president. Of the United Mine Workers,
has in speeches before union gather
ings and in statements asserted that
the men could accept no reductions, but
would seek increases.
Central Field Rates Rule
Ordinarily wage negotiations in the
bituminous industry have been begun
between the union and an organization
of operators in what is known rs the
central competitive field, including
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Illi-
nois. The agreement reached in this
agreements in all the union outlying
districts.
Certain Of the Pennsylvania opera
tors have given notice that they would
not renew the wage negotiations this
year in association with other sections
Of the central field, on the ground that
/ West Virginia wage scales, chiefly non
union, were the chief competitive fac
tor
Secretary Hoover several weeks ago
induced the operators to meet with
resident Lewis, and submitted prop
osition that the entire question be sub
mitted to arbitration. This the union
representative refused OH the ground
that the constitution of their organi-
Zatlon forbade the submission Of the
question to outside arbitration in ad-
vance Of direct negotiations with the
employers. This position has remained
unchanged, although Mr. Lewis was
called to Washington last week for i
conference with Secretary Hoover.
SHAMOKIN. Pa. Jan. 1--WE are
rot staging any situation,' said In
Of the United Mine Workers. to-night
when shown dispatches from Washing
ton that Secretary Of Commerce
Hoover had issued warning Of an
impending soft coal strike.
Owe have no desire or inclination
10 provoke an industrial conflict" said
Nh. Lewis. "lf any conflict comes the
responsibility will be upon the oper-
ators, who already have taken an arbi-
trary position and are insisting on q
reduction in wages Immediately. We
have proposed the usual conference
following the expiration Of the wage
scale"