The New York herald., 1922-07-11
STRIKE MUST END
President Insists New
Wage Scale Be Fixed
Not Later Than
August 10.
MINERS SET MEETING
Call Session of Policy Com
mittee' to Consider Pro-
posal Saturday.
ORDERS PRICE INQUIRY
President to Investigate Prof
its and Act to Stabilize
Industry.
ORDERS PRICE INQUIRY
Special Dispatch to THE New ro,k Hr.4lD.

Special Dispatch to THE New rouK HElAIp
New York Herald Bureau.
WashinGton. d. C.. July 10. (
President Harding to-day delivered
what amounts to an ultimatum to coal
miners and operators. calling for an
immediate opening of the mines and a
settlement of their differences by a
joint commission representing tho
miners, the operators and the public.
Miners Hnd operators went inu
separate conferences. The miners
emerged with statement that they
did not have authority to act and
would call together policy commit
tee In Washington to consider the
proposal. the committee to meet nel
Saturday.
The operators said they were pre-
pared to give full consideration to the
Presidents demands. They, too. had
not taken positive action. but It was
formally stated that they were pre-
pared. authorized and empowered TO
act. but that there was no rush be-
cause of a patent attempt by the
miners to delay.
Meantime the nation is running into
fuel famine and the President and
the entire Government have pledged
protection of the public from suffering
as a result
Presidents PROPOSAL.
President Harding, finding tnis morn
ing that operators and miners could ap-
proach no agreement or common basis
for negotiation. summoned them again
to the White House. He proposed:
!. That the mine workers return 70
their labors on the basis Of the wage
scale existing March 81. when they
quit.
?. That a coal commission be
created at once composed of three
members selected by the mine
workers three by the operators and
five by the President: all decisions
by this commission o be binding.
3. That the commission detern1ine
new wage scale by August 10 and
that the previous scale prevail until
determination is reached.
4. The commission 10 make an ex-
haus.ive investigation OF the indus
try. examine into profits. and make
recommendations for sterilization,
avoidance OF intermittency of en-
ployment and other evils.
Neither side has yet accepted the pro-
posal. The President suggested that
they not act hastily, but It viii be Satur-
day before the miners are ready TO take
up The propositions submitted in meet
t.,e- ~ -.
ment by their officers, Is empowered TO
act.
Resentment IL shown.
Representatives OF the coal operators
are frankly resentful at the attitude OF
the miners representatives. Operators
say they are ready TO act. They declare
the officers OF the United Mine Workers
sent to Washington for the conferences
with the President more than a week
ago were empowered TO reject the plans
for settlement then offered and the plea
for action by the policy committee means
a deliberate attempt to delay. They de-
clare .hat on the showing OF the action
to-day the negotiations thus far con-
Quoted have been In bad faith and could
get nowhere
Meanwhile some Senators called upon
the President this afternoon and told
him the Northwest was certain to suffer
from fuel famine unless Immediate steps
toward relief were taken by the Gov
ernment
Operators OF the anthracite field OF
Pennsylvania. headed by s. D. warriner.
called at the White House late In the
afternoon and told the President the
anthracite operators would give every
consideration TO his proposal and were
ready to act. They gave no definite re-
ply however.
Operators Confer at Might.
Bituminous ana anthracite operators
are In joint conference tonight. They
will not have an answer for the Presl-
dent ready for several days, however
They say there Is no hurry, since Il will
be At least next Saturday before the
miners have any one here who Is au.
thorized TO commit them or to accept a
definite proposal for settlement In this
connection the bituminous operators gave
out statement OF definite proposals
for settlement made In the joint con-
ference held more than week ago,
which were definitely rejected by the
representatives here OF the bituminous
miners.
The proposals rejected by miners fol-
low
Pursuant to the call OF the President
OF the United States. and In order 70
bring about speedy termination OF
the strike now In progress In the bitum.
nous coal fields. the operators offer the
following motion and move it's adoption
'First--That the negotiation OF wage
scale contracts In all Of the scale n Ak.
t,.~ dtutrt~t. ho ro,r ~. .~.t.Z -