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Show MINERS SPURN (Mil WAGE OFFER '14 PER CENT Union Officials Declare That Proposal Is Re-. Re-. pudiation of Acts of Secretary of Labor. ! Men Will Not Accept, Says Lewis, After Government Gov-ernment Plan Had Been Discussed in Meeting. WASHINGTON", Nov. 26. A government govern-ment plan for settling the soft coal strike, which embodied a 14 per cent wage increase in-crease for miners and the stipulation that there should be no increase in the price paid by the public, was laid before miners and operators tonight by Fuel Administrator Garfield. John E. Eewis. j acting president of the United Mine Work- I era of America, announced that the miners min-ers would not accept. I After a three hours conference, at which representatives of the miners openly open-ly declared that the now scale was "in- I suiting" and sharply questioned Dr. Garfield, Gar-field, the subscale committee composed of miners and operators, met to consider the settlement plan and quickly adjourned. Another meeting will be held tomorrow. The miners refusal to accept, while 1 not announced to Dr. Garfield, was taken by the operators to be definite. Thomas T. Brewster chairman of the operators' association, declared the Garfield 14 per cent statement formally eliminated Secretary Sec-retary Wilson's proposal for a 31 per cent increase. "The operators are ready to negotiate a new wage agreement.' Brewster said, "despite Dr. Garfield's statement that the government will not permit an advance ad-vance in the price of coal." While the subscale committee will givo consideration to the proposition, the full committer, representing both sides, will remain here to receive any plan of settlement set-tlement that might le agreed upou. SHARP NOTE OF PROTEST SOUNDED. There was a sharp note of protest from the miners over the amount of increase, which was much lower than they had expected. ex-pected. Frank Farrington, president of the Illinois district of miners, was cheered when he 'declared that union men in 0a stato would not accept it. Answering Farrington, who wanted to know If miners min-ers refusing to work would be claased us "outlaw.." Dr. Garfield said the government govern-ment could not compel anybody to work, but that it would provide every production produc-tion for tho willing to go into the mines and glc the country the coal it needs. Wfiilam Green, secretary of the United Mine Workers, declared tomorrow would see the end of all negotiations, as "tlrtc operators are opposed to granting any increase in-crease and the miners cannot proceed on tho figures given by Dr. Garfield." Many of tho miner yald they agreed will Alexander Alex-ander Howal . president of the Kansas miners, who announced that "if wo are utu.ble to receive a wage that will guarantee guar-antee uh a decent living SCO days in the year, we will go home and light for a while." OPERATORS TO MEET TO PROVIDE DEMAND. Operators here will meet tomorrow to decide whether to grant the Increase in View of Dr. Garfield's positive announcement announce-ment that no Jnr.rryne in tho juice of coal would be allowed. Many of them shared the view expressed bv I'htl T Penna of Tcrre Haute, did., "that some of the largest tympanies would b forcod to shut down if that much incrctioe was given. Declaring that Secretary WHhoii, act-I act-I ing a-i tlie "authorised agont of the cabl-j cabl-j net and of President Wilson' bad offered i an Increase of 3J 6-10 per cent, Lewis tasked if the government Intended to "repudiate "re-pudiate t'.e nets of Secretary Wilson" Dr. Garfield r.plled that Mr. Wldsoi I made bis proposal as a mediator to facilitate facili-tate negotiations, und that Mr. Wtlpon told him today It wan the duty of the fuel administrator to fix iri'--, and that ll way nor the functions of tho secretary of labor. SOUND AND RIGHT, (. IRFIELD SAYS. "The cabinet has decided that the bay is T have suggested is sound and right," JUr. Garfield said. ! Dr. Garfteld declared that the miners, j without the proposed Increase of 1 per I cent, were belter off than other classes of employment. A permanent body, with purely advisory powers, consisting of tij.-jecretary tij.-jecretary ot the interior a? chairman, and of ;.n eo,ua! number of representatives of operators and mine workers, was recommended recom-mended by Or. Gsraetd. This board would con tin re .o apply tl c principles announced by the fuel administration admin-istration to unsettled questions, wages and profits and living conditions. in the midst of a sharp crossfire of questions. IVanit Karrington. presldi i i of the Illinois district o." Cnlted Mtn'c Workers, sked Dr. Garfield if Hie miner (Continued on Page 10, Column l) i ciation are taken into consideration," the statement said. "What Is meant by this is that proper item in fixing costs, depreciation de-preciation of plant and depletion of the cost or value of the coal In the ground. "In the latter part of 1916 a'.l coal companies com-panies in the United States, save those in the extreme east, began making money, with the result that the operations for the year 1910 generally show a profit of from 10 to 35 per cent on capital invested. in-vested. "In 1917 all bituminous coal mines east of the Mississippi river made what might be termed fabulous profits, the general average being from 100 to 150 per cent on invested capital, the range being from 15 to 800 per cent." GARFIELD OFFER IS SPURNEDY DIGGERS Look Upon Proffered 14 Per Cent Increase as an Insult. (Continued From Page On 5.) would be regarded as "outlaws" if they did not return to work. The government never has attempted to compel men to work against their will, but every protection will be offered miners min-ers willing to return to the mines, Dr. Garfield replied. DID NOT BELIEVE MEN WOULD ACCEPT. Farrington replied that he did not think this would be necessary for miners in Illinois, as he did not believe there were any in that state who would care to return re-turn under the new wage conditions. Phil P. Penna, operator of Torre Haute, Ind., said that the 14 per cent Increase would more than absorb the margin of profit of the Indiana mines this year. "How are these mines to continue in operation?" he asked. Dr. Garfield replied that, under a falling fall-ing market of demand, the "high cost of operation" mines would have to close or else have to operate at a loss. Many of these mines, Mr. Penna said, represent "the labor and sacrifice of men's lives, of men who are too old to commence again, and the government must not make a demand that will put these men out of business." Br. Garfield said at the meeting that the lowest wages paid to miners was 54.75 a day, and that, working 200 days a year, the minimum average annual return re-turn amounted to ?950. This sum. he added, "is a little higher than wages in other employment, and this is without considering the 14 per cent increase." William Green, secretary of the United Mine Workers, asked if $950 was sufficient to maintain American standards of living. liv-ing. "That depends on circumstances," said Dr. Garfield. "There are very few who get more than $50 a month. I won't admit ad-mit that a decent American standard isn't permitted." A number of miners attempted to jeer the new wage scale. Alexander Howat, president of the Kansas miners' organization, organi-zation, characterized it as an "insult." and said "we are ready to go home and fight it out." To pay higher wages than the proposed scale would make miners a favored class, and "would result in the paymhent by the publicof an enormous fund to a minority.'' Dr. Garfield said, replying to questions from Frank Farrington, president of the Illinois district of the United Mine Workers. Work-ers. Such a situation, Dr. Garfield added, does not differ from that of a corporation that attempts to add to its profits at the expense of the few. Dr. Garfield explained ex-plained that he was not trying to dictate to the wage scale committee what it should do, but that he was prepared to say that, regardless of the amount of wage advance agreed to by the operators and miners, the public would not be called upon to pay more for its coal. Statement by Operators. Higher wages to bituminous coal miners min-ers would mean rewarding men "who prefer pre-fer to loaf rather than produce coal," is the claim of the executive committee of the operators in central territory in a statement issued tonight. Excerpts from a "typical mine pay roll" are quoted to show that, out of 175 men offered an opportunity to work twenty-two twenty-two days in a month, only forty-six presented pre-sented themselves. "On every occasion that the mine wage scale has been advanced during the last few years, the number of these idlers ha3 increased, because they were able to earn all they required in a fewer number of days," the statement read. Names of fifteen miners taken from pay rolls were listed in the statement, showing show-ing dally earnings from $S.10 to $13.05. the tabulation of the same in quarterly reports, showing: 1. Production, distribution and storage stor-age and stores of coal and coke; "2. The cost of production and distribution distri-bution and of maintaining suitable stocks nnd any other data concerning the industry in-dustry deemed necessary; "3. The cost of living in the several coal fields; "4. The selling prices and nroflts obtained ob-tained by the operators, middlemen and retail dealers; "5. Export requirements and the conditions con-ditions limiting them. "The settlement of the present controversy contro-versy on the wage and price basis above indicated must be considered in the light of the proposal to set up this permanent consultative body. While It will not have powers of decision. It will hardly seem possible to a reasonable man that In the light of its conclusions demands for exorbitant ex-orbitant profits or unreasonable wages can be successfully maintained or that conditions unfavorable to the American standard of living will be tolerated." M'ADOO ISSUES CHALLENGE TO SOFT COAL MINE OWNERS NEW YOUK, Nov. 26. Bituminous coal operators wero accused of obscuring the issue and again challenged to produce pro-duce their Income tax returns hy William Wil-liam Q. McAdoo. former secretary of the treasury. In a formal answer today to their telegram critcls ng hjs earlier statement state-ment that they made "shocking and In-defens'ble In-defens'ble profits in 1S17," and should not be allowed to Increase prices of coal. "The statement in your telegram," said his reply, addressed to the operators' committee at Washington and made public pub-lic here, "that the average margin per ton on all coal mined In 198 was forty-six forty-six cents has no bearing upon this Issue-These Issue-These averages are frequently used aa convenient smoke screens to obscure the facts. The question Is what were the profits on the capital employed by the mine owners regardless of the average-prof, average-prof, t that may have been earned on each ton of coal. "Whatever the margin per ton was. If It resulted in excessive profits on the capital employed, then clearly the public should not be made to pay higher prices for coal and the mine owners should absorb ab-sorb the wage Increase to the men. There need bo no controversy about the matter because tite income tax returns speak for themselves. "Before the coal operators nre permitted permit-ted to increase the price of coal, which would mean taking toil from every factory, fac-tory, every Industry, every business and from every domestic fireside In America. It should be clearly demonstrated that the Increase Is Justified. "Under the law the secretary of the treasury may publish these returns with the president's permission and I hope for the sake of the American public that such publication will he made. I am convinced con-vinced that the Increased wages proposed by Secretary Wilson for the mine workers work-ers are Just and reasonable because they equalize the miners' . ng-es with the present pres-ent Increased cost of living as shown by Secretary Wilson's figures. "I Ignore the offensive tone of your telegram because nell her persons lit !es nor questioning of motives should he permitted to obscuro the Issue. I am not surprised, moreover, that you think It bad taste for me, as n private citizen, to express my opinion upon an Important question concerning I he general pttbUo, but even a private citizen hat ,nt much right as mine owners to cxpn-ns his opinions opin-ions In free America. The long suffering public has a right to be heard and considered." con-sidered." NO GREAT CHANGES IN COAL SITUATION IN MIDDLE WEST f'HIOAOO. Nov. 26. Progress today of the national strike of bituminous coat miners Into the twenty-sljith day was without murUed development. Kfforts of the government to br'ng about an agreement agree-ment between the miners and operators at Washington held chief attention. The gradually decreasing fuel supply forced additional shutting down of plants In the middle west nnd In tho smith the regional coal comtn'ttee FeQUeoted all In-duvtrlos In-duvtrlos which could do a without, heavy fltlMUSlal lOW tO OtOM down from this cven'ng until Monday morning. Production In West Virginia today held up to the standard maintained ilnoe the strike went Into effect with smaller ipinn-titles ipinn-titles added from the Wyoming and Now Mexl'-" mines. In Texas I few miners who had returned to work wore out today on a second strike, In tho central west, the rotnlng of cold weather, forecast for fodav, was otpoctnd to bring Increased suffering, Manv cities nnd towns were virtually without fuel. At Hher'dan. Wyo,, six miners today were under arrest charged with Inla t log the strike Injunction Issued hv Federal Judge A. I. A nderson n t India napoj Is, They with believed to be the fhsi work -era taken into custody under that restraining re-straining order. FABULOUS PROFITS MADE BY OWNERS, GLASS DECLARES WASHINGTON, Nov. Bituminous coal mines east of the Mississippi river In JfM7 made "what might he termed fabulous profits," the gem i ai average being from 100 to IGfl per nenl on Invested capital, according to a sta t emeu I 1st ud tonight by Hscrstsry OIass, based on data furnished by SXpsrtS or the Internal iove-mie iove-mie bureau. "CoaI operators generally in the United Mates In the years lull and IflKi lost "Thousands of others showing similar earnings could be added to the list," It was stated. TEXT OF GARFIELD'S STATEMENT BEFORE JOINT CONFERENCE WASHINGTON. Nov. 26. "Dr. Garfield's statement to the Joint conference of miners min-ers and operators follows: "On the twenty-fourth Instant, I announced an-nounced that the public must not be asked to pay more than it Is now paying for coal, unless it is necessary to do so in order to provide reasonable wages to the mine workers and a reasonable profit to the operators. Careful investigation forces me to the conclusion that, in accordance accord-ance with this and the other principles set forth on the twenty-fourth instant, the public ought not to be required to pay any increase in coal prices at thia time. "The prices fixed by the government on ! coal were calculated to Increase produc- tion for war purposes. Coal was basic and the increase in production was imperative. im-perative. The operators are now In receipt re-ceipt of margins which were, necessary to effect that increase of production, but which are larger than are required under present conditions. It was estimated that the production needed for 1918 was six hundred million tons. The estimate for 1919 is five hundred million tons. "Applying the principles eet forth In paragraph two of the statement of November No-vember 24, when the average Increases in wages since 1913 for ihe various classes of mine workers are deducted from the Increase In-crease In the cost of living a! nee that time, we arrive at the amount of additional addi-tional Inerease In wages Justifiable at the present time. Gives the Figures. "I have taken the figures of the bureau of labor statistics for both cost and living and for the weighted avprage of wage Increases. In-creases. According to these figures th cost of living has risen 79.8 per cent since 1913, and the amount necesaary to bring tho average wages of mine workers up to this point at the present time Is fourteen per cent. "Readjustments heretofore made slne 1913 were such aa to give certain classes of mine workers an average Increase In excess of the Increase in the cost of living, liv-ing, and rf-rtaln others an averairo increase in-crease below tho Inerease in the cost of living. This form of adjustment was made In order to establish or preserve certain relative bases In the mining Industry. I do pot think this condition, however, ought to result in giving to mine workers work-ers aa a whole, and In consequence Im-poping Im-poping uron the public, a total average Increase in excess of the total average increase In tho cost of living, because If this course he adopted, the result would be that the total Increased burden placed upon the mining Industry will bo far In excess of the Increase In the cost of living. liv-ing. If this principle were annlled to Industries generally. It Is obvious that the resulting eost would bfl passed along to the general public and thn Increased mUCOO would Increase n a rapid spiral taking as a minimum the percentage Of Increase in the cost of living. In the long run, this would add manv new nnd serious burdens to the cost of living of tho entire public and would fall more Injuriously In-juriously nOOfl the working classes than upon any others. The Reason a hie Way. "It seoms to me thai the renwonnble wav to deal with tnli situation Is to give to the Industry as a wlmle nn average Increase In-crease commensurate with the increase In the eost of living nnd then lt that amount of Inerease be apportioned In accordance with the wage bases thnt nre acceptable to the employers a nd the Bflipfoytea "Control or pliCOl try the government will M maintained for thn present. "The present negotiation stands by Itse'f. btlt It Is far fron disposing of the fundamental controversy bet ween opera-ton opera-ton and mine workers. That controversy Is hound to be a continuing one aa mst-tcrs mst-tcrs now stnnd. It Involves living conditions condi-tions and Conditions In the Rllnei an wc ,is wages and profits, nnd the general relation re-lation between Operators nnd mine workers. work-ers. Therefor" to Mid In applying the principles whh'h have governed us nnd which should govern in reaching eonclu-s eonclu-s onr. In the future. It In urged Pint n per. manent consultative body, with purely adu vlsorv powers, be sot tip consisting the seretsrv "f Interior ns chnlrnnn, and of no ennui number of rsnressntatlvei of the operators and ft the mine owners, chosen In iich munper ns they may each determine deter-mine frotri time to time. Pul i i to Congress. "In order t hat t he do fa ner-essn r y for the consideration of thin body may at all , t'mes lr available, H urged in at thn "omrrens nmk" provision tor collecting definite oti'l trustworthy Information con- |