Evening star., 1925-11-29

which | believe the strike can be and
should be settled with justice to the
miners, to the operators, and. most or
all, to the anthracite-using public OF
America.
Holds Compromise Vital.
Neither miners nor operators can
expect, or ought TO expect, to see this
strike settled on their own terms.
Both must make concessions. III
either side attempts to hold out
against a rea sonable settlement Tor
mere pride of opinion. anxiety to save
its face or the determination TO insist
on some point too small TO be weighed
against the enormous losses TO the
public, it will justly be held respon-
sible for those losses, and It's condem-
nation will be as great as its offense.
The essential party in this dispute
is neither the miners nor the oper-
ators 1t is the forty millions whose
habit is to warm themselves with an
thracite Ny intervention Is made as
a representative Of the public and Tor
the purpose OF protecting the public
interest and the public rights.
The first condition of any settle
ment of this strike should be every
practicable assurance to the public that
the price Of anthracite Will not be
raised by the operators. Miners and
operators alike should pledge their
best efforts to mine and market coal
economically in order that increased
cost of coal may be avoided.
The second condition should be that
another interruption of supply like the
present will not soon take place.
The third should be that an honest
effort will be made to prevent another
interruption Of supply from ever TAX
| ing place.
II have called you together as rep
resentatives of miners and operators
! to Law before YOU again your obliga-
! tions 10 the industry to which you
both belong, to the region where that
| industry lies and to all users OF an
thracite.
Offers Outline Of Pact.
I'm particular 1 desire to submit
| the following rough outline OF an
| agreement upon which, In substance.
I believe the present suspension OF
| work in the anthracite mines could be.
and ought to be, ended at once, with
| Justice to the miners. the operators
and the anthracite-using people or
America:
shall not. by reason of the present
suspesnion or of this agreement or
| any part Of 1t. be increased by the op'
orators beyond those scheduled for the
year 1925.
-. This agreement shall be for not
| less than five years.
"a A board of investigation and
! award shall be established under this
agreement and shall continue during
| the life thereof. 1t shall consist Of
two men chosen by the miners, two
| men chosen by the operators and
three others selected by the four thus
! chosen. All necessary expenses OF the
board shall be borne equally by the
miners and operators.
~. The board of investigation and
award shall investigate and determine
whether or not, all factors OF cost be-
ing duly considered. the operators can
| reasonably pay an increase of wages
| without increasing the price of coal
| II the board shall find that an increase
Of wages without increase of price Is
| justified, such increase shall be paid
| in such amounts and to such classes
| Of employees as the board in it's award
shall determine. If 1t shall not so find,
no increase of wages shall be awarded.
Back Pay Provided.
.'5. The board Of investigation and
award shall meet and organize within
30 DAYS and make and publish its
award within six calendar months
after 1t shall organize for business.
Any increase of wages so awarded
shall be in effect from the date back
to the day when the present suspen-
sion ends.
| &c. The original records Of both
miners and operators shall be open to
| the board of investigation and award
| for the purpose Of enabling 1t to reach
It's decision. but the records shall not
| f,, g,
| enable the facts concerning any indi.
yidual company or any local union to
be separately known.
!7. When its award as to wages
| has been made. the board of investiga-
ton and award shall forthwith pro-