The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1923-09-06

burg, PA fiat wage in
Yof 10 per cent for the 10000
Pacite miners was the last-min-
plan OF settlement which Govern
- Pinchot presented to joint ses-
Ision of operators and miners repre-
sentatives here The governors
peace plan makes several other rec
concentrations, including the eight
hour day aad union recognition, but
all of these are either already in eff
feet in the industry or have been con-
coded by tie operators.
Governor Pinchot requested the
committees to make no immediate an
swer, but consider with elaboration
the settlement plan. In the mean
time he asked the members of the
two committees to refrain from indi-
eating their stand.
The 10 per cent wage increase,
Governor Pinchot said, would add
about so cents to the price Of ton
OF coal at the mine, which, on the
average annual production of 10000
600 tons. would amount to about $42,-
100000 He proposes that OF this sum
the operators absorb 10 per cent a
ton, or about S7,000.000. citing the
fact that Gin the last three months of
1922 and the first three months of
1923 their profits have been greater
than ever before in their history"
The remaining $4,000 600 required
to meet the wage increase should
come in the end not from the con-
sumers of anthracite. but from the
railroads and the middleman, Govern
or Pinchot said.
"The remaining so cents" he said,
"can easily and properly be taken
from out of the cost of transporta-
ton and distribution"
According to the figures Of the
United States Coal Commission, the
10 per cent wage increase would
mean an average increase for the
men employed in and about the
mines of about 81 cents day. TIL
union demanded 20 per cent increase
for the contract miners and an In
crease of 2 a day for day laborers,
which would amount to about 40 per
cent for them. Although the average
increase would exceed 80 cents, 1t
would mean only AZ cents day raise
for the common labor employed at
the mines. which numbers some go
GOO of the 10000 total, and is now
being paid at the rate of 1920 a day.
Other olassifcations of day labor
are earning up to SIS so and the con-
tract miners average somewhat over
ST. The day laborers, however, con-
stitute by far the largest class, con-
tract miners who are paid on their
output numbering about 10000 and
the higher classifcations of day Ia
Dor totaling about $4,000
The need for higher wages, espe-
eiaIy for the 10000 men in the COM
mon day-Iabor class. has been con-
stantly stressed by The union repre-
sentatives during all of the negotfa-
tions. The fiat percentage increase
proposed by the governor, resultin-,
as 1t will. in an increasing differential
between the higher and lower classes
of mine labor, Is not expected to win
overmuch favor with the union Off
cials.
There are other factors which are
believed % make their acceptance Of
the proposal uncertain despite the
wage increase which Governor Pin
chot recommends. This. taken In
conjunction with the operators often
repeated assertion that further in
creases were unwarranted, md their
insistence on arbitration, has thrown
a cloud of doubt as to the final fate
of the settlement.
Among the recommendation made
by the governor are several which the
miners say are decidedly gratuitous.
HIS first is for a basic eight hour day
in the industry, and this the miners
poirt out was conceded by the oper-
ators in principle at the first session
OF their wage negotiations this year
at Atlantic City.