| Show m r Di W WON ON m COAl 1 TO I fiNAl fiNAlI I Settlement of Controversy Is J Believed to Hinge on Decision W WASHINGTON Nov 25 Settle Settle Settlement ment of the controversy over a new wage vage agreement in the bituminous coal industry today a awaited action by PresIdent President President dent Wilson's Wilsons cabinet Fuel Garfield speaking speaking speak speak- ing to the joint wage scale committee of operators and miners announced five rIve principles which have governed I him and his associates but different interpretations were placed upon its various provisions b by the workers and the mine owners in informal discussions discussions discussions discus discus- after the meeting Dr Garfield called the miners and operators together after a conference ence with Attorney General Palmer Director I General HInes Tunes and Assistant Attorney General Ames The five principles announced by Dr Garfield were were- RAISES OPPOSED First 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 Second the arrangement entered into between the operators the miners and the fuel administration with the sanction of the president of the United States in October 1917 was intended to equalize the wages of all classes of mine and to be sufficient to cover the period of the war but not beyond March 31 1920 hence the only Increase in cost cf ct living which can now be considered Is the Increase above that provided for by the average In Increase Increase increase In- In crease in 1917 that is to say the average average average aver aver- age total increase in pay over the 1913 base which was the base considered in 1917 should not exceed the present average increase in the cost of ot living over the same base It Is also to be considered that tha t the cost of living will fall rather than rise during the next few years SCALE WAR MEASURE Third the maximum prices fixed by the government on coal were calculated calculated calculated cal cal- to Increase production of ot coal for tor war purposes Coal was basic and will not now pay the Increase over normal normal normal nor nor- mal profits then allowed for the purpose purpose purpose pur pur- pose of stimulating production Fourth any increase in wages wages now arrived at aton on the basis of the foregoing principles should be borne by the operators operators operators oper oper- or the he public or both as may be bedet det determined by the application of these principles and should take effect as of the dat when the men return to work Fifth the needs of ot the United States are not alone to tl be considered Europe Is In desperate need of coal and should have all that we can spare |
