The Winslow mail., 1923-09-14
Gov. Pinchots Efforts to Avert
Suspension of Anthracite
Coal Mining.
ITALY THREATENS GREECE
Murder of Military Commission in
Albania May Lead to Another War
Germany Paving Way for Aban-
doning Passive Resistance
In the Ruhr
By EDWARD w. PIcKARD

Mt EITHER the anthracite miners nor
IN the operators were entirely salts
fed with the compromise settlement
Of their differences suggested by Gov.
Clifford Pfnchot of Pennsylvania, and
the prospects at this writing are that
there will be temporary suspension
Of hard coal mining during which the
maintenance men will continue at work
at an increased wage. Parts Of the
governors plan were acceptable to
both sides, and 1t Is presumed that
negotiations will be carried further.
Governor Pinchot's proposition for
a settlement of the controversy con-
tained these four main points:
/. Recognition Of the basic eight
hour day for all employees If longer
hours are necessary at certain times
or in certain occupations, the over
time to be paid at the eight-hour rate.
2. A uniform increase of 10 per cent
to all employees. This increase to
take effect September 1.
8. Full recognition of the union by
the operators, without the check-off,
but with the right to have union rep
resentative present when the men are
paid.
4. Complete recognition Of the prin-
ciple of collective bargaining.
For three days and more the Penn
sylvania executive, at the request of
President Coolidge, had been studying
the situation with the assistance of
experts and comforting with the rep
resentatives of the operators and the
miners. At the outset he served no
tice on both sides that the threatened
suspension of anthracite mining on
September 1 could not be allowed ;
that the quarrel was not private one,
and that the public, vitally interested
wanted to see justice done to both
employer and employee but was tired
of repeated strikes and suspensions
Wednesday night the governor laid his
plan before the committees, again en-
phasizing the fact that public opinion
would enforce a settlement.
Mr.. PiLchot's proposal for an In
crease o2 wages was based on the cal
culation that 10 per cent would ado
go cents a ton to the cost Of mining
and that the operators, having made
unusual profits during recent months
could easily absorb 10 cents ton Of
this. The remaining 80 cents per ton
he said, Gin the end should not be
taken from the consumer" and he
promised to make proposals later fol
getting this absorbed out of existing
cost Of transporting and distributing
coal.
The employers repeated tenders Of
arbitration to settle all present details
of the controversy he set aside. He
suggested that the wage and working
arrangement he proposed should be
made effective for not less than one
year.
According to the United States coal
commission, an anthracite strike
would furnish another opportunity fol
wholesalers to repeat their specula
tive activities of last year and rear
outrageously large profits. The com
mission stated that it's inquiry into
anthracite costs during the winter o.
1928 led it to the conclusion tha
the speculative jobber or Wholesale
was "the prime cause of the extreme
ly high premiums paid for anthracite.
1t warned against panicky buying ant
urged retailers to join in combatin.
the speculative tendencies of jobbers
n YER In Europe the dogs of wa
~ began bowling again last week
This time it was Italy and Greece tha
were shaking their fists at each other