The Connecticut labor news., 1922-02-17

Indianapolis, Feb. 17.-The existing wage scale for soft coal miners, mini mum increase of 20 per cent for hard coal miners and general suspension ot work April 1, unless agreements are meantime entered into, were recommended to the wag convention of the United Mime Workers now in session here by its scale committee.
 These recommendations, which are certain of adoption, represent the basis on which the organization wishes to trade and the maximum which the leaders hope to obtain for the men. At the same tune they seem to preSage certain reduction in the wages now paid the 100000 union miners in bituninOus fields.
 So far as they are concerned the queS- ton upper1nost in the minds of the shreWder delegates IS how, if possible, to avoid such cuts, and if impossible, how to hold any cuts down to the minimum.
 With the antracite men, the question is different Representing what has been called the luxury branch of the indus try and being in better shape to stand long struggle they may obtain increases by demanding them.
 This placing of the cards upon the table, in the opinion of those best fitted to judge, brings the active intervention of Secretary Hoover, in charge of coal matters for the Administration, one step nearer. Just what move he will make IS apparently unknown here, but he is ex- pected to ask the operators of the central competitive fields on whose scale all other scales are based, to meet with the miners as provided in the existing scale, If in deed he has not already done so.
 This failing, or, If as seems certain, such a conference breaking up without agreement, he is expected to call upon both sides to submit lists of names from which a tribunal to fix the terms of new scale may be drawn.
 It began with the declaration that all miners are entitled to wages sufficiently high to permit an American standard of living.
 "1he present annual earnings" it said, "are inadequate and much below decent living wage, consequently a re- duction in mining prices would result in lower living standard among all mine workers, and poverty, suffering and deg radiation III many mining localities throughout the land.
 "We therefore declare in most emphatic manner our opposition to any reduction i'll mining pay and insist that the present basic wage schedules be maintained
 The report calls for an eight-hour day from the time of entering the mine until leaving, rather than eight hours at the face of the coal. Over time at the rate of time and one-half after eight hours is called for with double pay for Sundays and legal holidays.
 Weekly payments are also request ed, and "because of the abuses to 11tIic automatic penalty clause, designed to check illegal stoppages of work, is marked for elimination from any new agreement.
 The demands for a basic 20 per cent increase in contract mining, $1 a day for day laborers, and establish ment of the check off, voted by the anthracite miners at Shamokin, Pa, on January 20, were indorsed in full A recommendation that the new agreements run for two years con- cluded the report.
 "The present contract between the coal operators and the Union Mine Workers of America in both the an thracite and bituminous coal fields terminates on March 3I, 1922, a state ment of policy says: '1n the event no agreement is reached by April we declare in favor of general suspen- sion of mining operations, such action being subject to a referendum vote of the membership of the United Mine Workers of America, such referen- dunn vote to be held prior to March 3I."
 For the purpose of meeting in practical and constructive and unfore- seen emergencies which may arise, policy committee, composed of the Scale Committee of the Central Com petitive Field, three representatives from each of the outlying districts, members of the International Legis- lative Board and the international officers, is set up for the purpose of taking such action for the protection of our best interests as circumstances may require, and to advise the mem bership upon unexpected develop ments which may arise and which cannot now be foreseen."