The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-03-29
MINERS SUBMIT PAY
INCREASE DEMANDS
Conference Here Listens to
Arguments for 20 Per
Cent. Raise.
OPERATORS TO REPLY
Both Sides C0ncede Length
of Strike Lies in Wage
Issue.
REAL PROGRESS is SEEN
Threat of Seamen's Unions to
Aid Miners Discounted by
Warmer.
real PROGRESS IS SEEN

After week of preliminary discus
sion the joint subcommittee of an
thracite miners sand mine opera tors
took up the question OF new wage
scale agreement when the conference
was resumed yesterday in the Union
League Club
The present agreement expires at
midnight Friday. at which time. bar
ring miracles, $50 900 hard coal miners
will lay down their picks and shovels
and walk out simultaneously 100000
soft coal miners will strike. Reports
from West Virginia fields say some Of
the mines already have closed.
The duration OF the strike. accord
ing to leaders on both sides, depends
almost entirely on the wage question.
For three hours yesterday Philip
Murray, vice president of the United
Mine Workers, and other union leaders
argued in support of a 20 per cent. in
crease, which is the most important of
the miners nineteen demands.
Data collected from 800 business men
or Scranton. Wilkesbarre- Hazelton.
Pottsville. Shsmokin and other cities
in the anthracite district was submitted
TO show the cost OF living has not de-
creased. Figures for 1919, 1920, 1921
and 1922 were shown.
Cost OF Living In Evidence.
Statistics on rent, clothing, food in
cidental expenses. amusements. &c, we're
given as evidence that any decrease in
living costs due to falling food prices
is more than offset by rent increases,
dearer shoes and hats and doctors bills.
Taxes, the statement showed. have gone
un, In some cases Sc per cent.
These figures will be submitted to ex-
perts employed by the mine operators
for authorization. The presentation Of
the union demands will continue for
several days, after which the operators
will make counter proposals. II is
understood they viii offer readjustment
Of the wage scale downward
Following the meeting Mr.. Murray
said he was satisfied with the progress
OF the negotiations. Everything Is in
readiness for the strike. he declared and
the miners are not worried at the sug
gestion made in Washington to import
coal from abroad in case Of shortage
here. Because Of import duties and
freight charges 1t would not amount to
much, he thought, even IL the union
longshoremen and seamen let 1t be I'M
loaded
S. d. Warmer. president or the Le-
high Coal and Navigation Company and
spokesman for the operators. said he
thought the conference had made real
al hn
full the settlement would come before
any public suffering from coal shortage
II have never known Of any other
time in the coal industry when there
were sIch ample stocks on hand every
where" he added.
Details Are Confidential.
Mr.. Warmer said great part of this
surplus was pea coal and buckwheat
coal. not generally used domestically,
but that I'VE are rapidly approaching
the end OF coal burning weather."
I'VE are trying to proceed In an or
derby way" he continued. IL don't wish
to tell the details Of the negotiations.
because they will move along much
faster II we don't enter into contro-
versal discussions outside"
In reply to Samuel Gompers's charge
that the railroads controlled 90 per cent.
Of the coal in the United States, Mr..
Warmer said that statement was very
far from the facts" About SIS to 10 per
cent Of the coal was controlled by the
so-called railroad coal companies. he
estimated.
The plan Of the longshoremens and
aeamen's unions 90 cooperate with the
miners by refusing TO handle imported
coal would have little effect on tbs sit
uation. steamship men said. T.. j. Nc
Cormack OF Moore g. Mccormack said
coal carrying ships can be unloaded OF
coal almost entirely by machinery, and
less than 500 tons on an ordinary
fleishter have TO be moved by hand
The statement coming from the sea
mems union that virtually all the ships
Of the United states Shipping Board
were manned BY union crews was denied
at the Shipping Board offices. The
open shop prevails on all the board !
ships. IL was said. The belief was gen.
eral that IN the event OF n serious tieup
q large number OF British vessels will
load at once with coal for the United
States, and that American vessels will
rot be needed.
SPRINGFIELD. III. March 2s.-Non-
union coal miners in both anthracite and
bitumlnous fields will join in large num-
berS with union miners In the coal strike
April !, John l.. Lewis international
president or the United Mine Workers,
predicted to-day.
MY reports indicate the organized
mine workers and a great number OF
unorganized miners will cease work on
April l." Mr.. Lewis said. This will
include the anthracite and bItumlnous
fields and is indicative OF unity among
the workers
SOFT COAL RESERVE
MAR. 4, So MILLION TONS
WAetIINnrnN March oa-Cnnanrn,crn