The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-03-30
HARD COAL MEN SEE
HOPEON STRIKES EVE
Cost of Living Bone of Con-
tention in Anthracite
Conference Here.
SAVING WAGE ISSUE
Men Demand $1,000 a Year
as Minimum for I'm
skilled Mine Labor.
PAY ABOVE WAR PEAK
Operators Submit Figures to
Prove Demand for IL P. c.
Cut Is Justified.

The joint subcommittee of anthracite
mine operators and miners continued
to discuss wages and the high cost
of living yesterday when the confer
ence was resumed at the Union League
Club.
Several weeks may be taken up
with the presentation of proposals and
counter proposals, after which the real
work of the committee-bargainin
will begin. None Of the leaders has
ventured guess how long that will
take. The strike starts at midnight
tomorrow.
A minimum wage OF 81 800 a year
for unskilled mine labor was demanded
yesterday by the United Mine Workers.
The entire session was devoted to pre-
senting this subclause in the wage de-
mand. 1t was referred to as the "sav.
ing wage" meaning the smallest liv-
ing wage on which. it is alleged, a
family Of f1ve can exist in the anthra-
cite district.
Philip Murray. vice-president and
spokesman of the union, issued a state
ment after the meeting in which he sa' !,
I'VE are hopeful
S. d. Warmer. president of the Lee
high Coal and Navigation Company and
leader OF the operators group also ex-
pressed hope. Mr.. Warmer then dis
cussed the operators position more fully
than at any time since the conference
opened. two weeks ago. Although ne
declined to state exactly what the mine
owners will offer. it was apparent their
proposition will be a reduction of wages
mt least to the scale existing prior to
March, 1920, which was approximately
II per cent. less than to-day. The min
ers have asked for 90 per cent. in
crease.
Want Facts. Not Statistics.
MIR. Warmer said actual living con-
ditions, not the Statistics of theorists"
must be taken as a basis for the mini
mum wage.
Please get this in your head" he
said. THE wages of the anthracite
miro, workers already are II per cent.
above che war peak as fixed by the
Fuel Administration and the War Labor
Board. In May. 1916, we made an
agreement to run four years. In 1917
we made two voluntary increases. In
November 1918. we made third vol
untary Increase. In November, 1919,
when the war was over, we voluntarily
agreed to continue the war scale until
March, 1920
I'm 1920 the Wilson committee
awarded for two years an advance of
IL per cent. making a total increase
since May, 1916, OF So per cent. for
contract men and from $3.50 to s2.20
q day for day men,"
whereas the wages advanced So per cent.
in six years the cost OF living i'm the
minc fields has advanced SO per cent.
emitting the miners to is per cent. at
least under the Saving wage" system.
He also laid great stress upon the ply
steal hazard of mine labor. saying more
than 500 men were killed in the anthra-
cite mines each year and 10000 are vic
tins of accidents.
One or the arguments the mine oper-
ators will use in support OF n wage re-
1uction will be the bank statements of
the anthracite district for 1920 and
1929. Mr.. Warriner said the deposits
have increased s75.o00.000. indicating
tbe general prosperity of northeastern
Pennsylvania.
1--WE believe the anthracite fields since
the war have been the most prosperous
section of the whole United States" he
said.
Another argument the operators will
present Is a table OF living costs pre-
pared by the National Industrial Confer
ence Board and issued yesterday. 1t
states that the board has just completed
the most comprehensive economic survey
Of the anthracite fields ever made and
shows:
Between July. 1920. when the peak
OF the rise in the cost OF living was