The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1923-09-07
Gov. Pinchot's 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-
donino Passive Resistance
"A in the Ruhr.
BY EDWARD W. PIckARD

nj EITHER the anthracite miners nor
y the operators were entirely salts
fed with the compromise settlement
of their differences suggested by Gov.
Clifford Pinchot 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-
tanned 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 /.
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, vitality 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-
phaslzing the fact that public opinion
would enforce settlement.
Mr.. Pinchot's proposal for an In
crease of wages was based on the cal
culation that 10 per cent would add
60 cents ton to the cost of mining
and that the operators, having made
unusual profits during recent months,
could easily absorb 10 cents q ton of
this. The remaining so cents per ton.
he said, "in the end should not be
taken from the consumer" and he
promised to make proposals later for
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 for
wholesalers to repeat their specula-
tive activities of last year and reap
outrageously large profits. The COM
mission stated that its inquiry into
anthracite costs during the winter of
1929 led it to the conclusion that
the speculative jobber or wholesaler
was "the prime cause of the extreme
~ high premiums paid for anthracite"
1t warned against panicky buying and
urged retailers to join in combating
the speculative tendencies of jobbers.
On YER in Europe the dogs of war
~ began bowling again last week.
This time ii was Italy and Greece that,
were shaking their fists at each other,