Evening star., 1935-09-24
11z-CENT DISPUTE
BLOCKS PEACE IN
COAL PAY PARLEY
New Miner Ultimatum De-
mands 9-Cent Raise
Against 7l2 Offer.
SECRETARY PERKINS
VOICES OPTIMISM
Relief to Be Held Up Pending
Investigation-All Other
Points Settled.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
A new ultimatum from miners to
mine operators raised doubts today as
to the speed with which the soft coal
strike might be settled.
John L. Lewis. president of the
United Mine Workers, emerged from
a conference on the thorny problem
with the assertion that the miners
would not agree to less than. 9
cents a. ton increase in pay for men
who dig and load coal.
Edward F. McGrady, Assistant Sec
| retary Of Labor, had reported the
operators willing to agree to a ia
cents boost.
Referring to the Scent union offer
as the unions last word"-all other
points at issue had been settled
Lewis said the special subcommittee
of two miners and two operators was
still engaged in a Misunderstanding
talk fest"
McGrady Sits Outside.
| GAS far as we're concerned. they
can take it or leave it, Lewis said.
These mutual admiration sessions are
beginning to wear out as far as we're
concerned"
McGrady. President Roosevelt's rep
resentative, sat in an ante-chamber
! outside the negotiating room. He said
he still hoped there would be a speedy
agreement.
Secretary Perkins at her press con-
ference expressed optimism as to the
ultimate outcome" of negotiations
II share with Mr. McGrady the feel
ings Of optimism about the outcome,
but wouldn't want to date it." she
| elaborated.
The negotiations we're In the hands
of a subcommittee including Charles
O'Neill. Central Pennsylvania oper-
ator; L. T. Putnam, Southern West
Virginia producer; Philip Murray, vice
president of the United Mine Work
ers, and Van Bitner, Southern West
Virginia district president of the union.
Must Show Relief Need.
Meanwhile Relief Administration Of.
ficials reported relief funds for strik-
ing coal miners and families would not
be provided unless an actual need for
relief occurred and the National Labor
Relations Board made an official de.
termination that the dispute was justi-
fed.
Some officials thought there was .
possibility Of settling the strike be-
fore miners have to apply for relief.
The miners originally demanded a
50-cent increase in day rates, 25 per
cent on yardage and dead work and
IS cents a ton on tonnage rates, with
35-hour week.
About two weeks ago the miners
modified their demand to so cents
increase in day rates, IS per cent on
yardage and dead work and 10 cents
ton on tonnage rates. They dropped
the 30-hour-week demand
Sunday the operators offered So
cent increase in day rates, 10 per cent
on yardage and dead work and cents
a ton on tonnage rates. A little later
they tentatively proposed So cents on
tonnage rates.
Offer by Miners.
In reply to this tentative offer the
miners proposed to split the differ
ence" by offering to modify their de-
mand to a 50-cent increase in day
rates, 10 per cent on yardage and
dead work and cents on tonnage
rates.
Then the proposal was made (the
operators say McGrady made it
and they accepted, while McGrady
says the operators proposed it, that
the tonnage increase be 712 cents.
The operators said they would accept
this proposal if the miners did, but
the miners refused. saying they had
split the difference" when they went
down to 8 cents.
No disorder was reported In the
coal fields as the United Mine Work.
ers, estimated by union officials to
number. 100000. responded to the
general strike call summoning their
members from the pits. The strike
call vas effective Sunday at midnight.
Yesterday news dispatches reported
that generally only mine maintenance
crews were at work.
250,00O Idle in Big States.
The miners union said 250,000 we're
idle in the big producing states Of
Pennsylvania and West Virginia. It
also said 10000 were out in Ohio,
$4,000 in Illinois and thousands Of
others in the Middle and Far WeSt.
as well as the South.
McGrady told reporters after a
meeting of the negotiating committee
last night that I'VE hope to get a
settlement in time to get to the prize
fight in New York" tonight He added:
LAS long as they agree % sit down
at table and talk to each other,
there's hope"
McGrady made a report of the
situation TO one of President Roose-
velt's secretaries yesterday, but he
himself did not see the President.