Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-04-05

Washington. April - Congress
sional effort at settlement of the
coal strike, particularly as it involves
the bituminous fields, was begun
today when Chairman Nolan of the
house labor committee was author
lied to telegraph invitations to
number of representative opera tors
and officers Of operators associations
in the central competitive fields to
attend a meeting with the miners
union leaders in Washington AprN
10, to attempt to reach an agree
ment.
At the same tiSle Senator Borah,
Republican, Idaho, took occasion to
say in the senate that drastic pub
lie action" might be demanded, and
to charge the operators with con-
tract breaking in precipitating the
strike.
A possible divergence between the
views of members of congress and
those OF the administration. how
ever, was seen when Attorney Gen.
eral Daugherty issued statement
reiterating that the government is
not undertaking to do anything in
the present situation of the coal mat
ter" declaring that men have a
right to stop work and men have a
right to employ other men," that the
public was not menaced with a coal
shortage. and that it was the duty
of local authorities TO maintain or
der.
The government would not look
with favor upon coal price increases,
Mr.. Daugherty said. adding that he
saw no reason at this time to be-
lieve that disorder need be feared.
but asserting that the governme mt
will perform whatever may be its
duty in the premises if local and
state agencies cannot maintain
peace.
The House committee action came
after its members had spent two DAYS
listening to discussion of the strike
from the miners viewpoint by Johr
J.. Lewis. president of the United
Mine Workers. Mr.. Lewis assured
the committee he would advise hi.
associates to negotiate with any
! representative group" of operator.
from the central field. which in.
cludes Illinois. Indiana. Ohio ant
Western PENNSYLVANIA. even though
not all the operators could be in
! duced to deal again with the union
The union he insisted, would no
and could not settle the dispute il
| other states until this basis had beer
| esta blished for national wage level
The committee decided to appea
| direct to the representative of tn,
operators groups in the states
named. and Mr.. Lewis tonight de
clared it had put forward PROPOSE
| ton worth considering"
However. l have no notion wha
| the operators will do" he said.
During the hearings today Mr.
| Lewis defined the Miners union pro
posals to esta bish a 6-hour day ant
| five-day week. one of the deman,
! originally made. scouting as lab
surd" a calculation be Representative,
| Black. Democrat. Texas. that thi
would occasion an extra annual cos
! of $244. 100000 to the public for coal
Mr.. Lewis arranged later to leav,
! for New York to continue the union
negotiations with anthracite opera
tors. The reasonableness of the fu
I ture wage was the chief issue here
he said.
In reply to questions from Repre-
sentative Black. Mr.. Lewis said TIL
.'basic day wage" in coal mining un
der present basic conditions wa
$50 per day compared with $2.S4 il
! 1913. but the scale in the latter year
he added. was a ''pauper standard.
| The House committee contemplat
ed further inquiry into the coal in
dustry. with testimony from boil
operators and miners. and is ex
! pected to continue its hearing tomor
row.