New-York tribune., 1922-07-26

ressnsasives of the Interstate Com.
msrce Commission. the Departments
OF Commerce, Interior and Justice, the
railroads and the coal operators. II
viii devote it's efforts TO keeping prices
down and rasianing coal to the indus.
tries needing il most
The commission to arbitrate the diff
ferences between the coal mines and
the operators, which President Harding
wired Governor Sproui last week nc
would name, will not be appointed until
lsxt week, it was made clear ~ the
NSite House
re President is still waiting, it was
said 1T the White House. TO Gee II the
nineSs will work when given adequate
protection. Indicating that there has
been an extreme unwillingness TO agree
70 accept the findings OF his proposed
arbitration commission, the President
is determined that il shall be named
anyhow and that the American public
is represented on il Il nobody elsa is.
President Harding has long believed
tnat tho chief trouble in the coal mine
situation 10 that the miner does not
have sufficiently steady employment,
TIE Average member Of days a miner
can work is estimated TO be in the
neighborhocd Of 1870 year. This has
for years been one of the chief argu-
ments by mine union officials way the
men should receive higher wages.
President Offers Remedy
Ii devsaoped to-day for the first time
tina. the President had proposed q
remedy for this situation; that it had
been kicked over by the union officials,
but that some of the operators thought
it could be applied.
This suggestion was that In employ
ing miners the operators should give
them individually an annual contract
guaranteeing them a certain number
of days work during the year Mt q
given minimum wage. The President
suggested that the number Of days to
be guaranteed should be ESQ, though
he amdittcd this figure might be too
high, and it might be easier to ADJUST
the question on basis Of ESQ days, or
even go days
This proposal WAS made six weeks
ago, it was said at the White House,
but so far it had found few friends.
The President will inform the COM
mission, however, when he appoints
il, OF This thought. so that it may be
investigated. He is firmly o. the con-
viction that any such proposal as that
the miners shall be paid sufficient
wages for working half the year or
iSsS TO MAINTAIN Ett AIHcIsCaH stAuualu
Of living comparable with the workers
IN other industries who work all the
year around is uu-Americsn and in
tolerable
Would Stabilize Labor
The Presidents plan for e guaranty
Of working days, it was pointed out at
the White House. could speedily re
move from the industry the tremendous
excess of men now in it. Necessary in
connection with such steady produc-
titn of coal as this gusrante ed stsadi-
ness Of employment would provide, it
was pointed out, would be large storage
facilities.
On the railroad shipments strike
situation it was said az the White
hcusc that Presidents Harding was in
constant touch with Chairman Hooper
OF the Railroad Labor Board and that
the President was determined that the
whole strike situation hinged on the
recognition OF the Labor Board as
possessing governmental authority.
Postmaster General Work told the
President at the Cabinet meeting that
the mails were not being seriously in
teffered with.