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Show COHL STRIKERS 6ETPR0P0SAL SCHEME WOULD HAVE MINER3 RETURN TO WORK AT OLD WAGE SCALE Suage6ts Procedure Looking Jlo Ultimate Ul-timate Adjustment of Wage and Working Condition of All Parties Washington. President Harding submitted Holiday to the bituminous and anthracite operators and miners gathered here in conference a proposal that the miners return to work at the wage scale in existence when worK was suspended on April 1 and continue con-tinue to work on that scale until August Aug-ust 10, meanwhile un arbitration board being appointed to negotiate a new wage scale. The arbitration commission would be expected to have its award ready by August 10, but if unable to arrange a new scale by that date, the scale which expired April 1 would be continued con-tinued from August 10 to April 1, 1923. President Harding's proposals were put before the operators and minors' union officials in the form of a letter let-ter and both sides in the bituminous industry left the White House to consider con-sider them at separate meetings. Th anthracite operators and miners remained, re-mained, however. In outlining his proposal for government gov-ernment arbitration, President Harding Hard-ing said : "The information has come to me that your conference is deadlocked, or, at the best, attempting to agree on plans which will require extended time to work out. I have said heretofore that the government prefers you who are parties to the dispute should settle set-tle it among yourselves, becaus you best understand all the problems involved. in-volved. The government cannot settle set-tle it for you. It will force no man to work against his free will, it will force no man to employ men against the free exercise of an employer's rights. The government will not b partisan, but the government is concerned con-cerned with coal production sufficient to meet the industrial and transportation transpor-tation requirements of the country and to safeguard against a fuel famine fam-ine when winter comes again, and It is desired to have production resumed at once. "Tour government does desire to be helpful." The commission then was outlined and the president continued : "The commission shall investigate exhaustively every phase of the coal industry. It shall reveal every cost of production. The president will ask congress to confer authority for th- most thorough investigation and make appropriations necessary to do surti work. The commission shall' make recommendations looking to the tnbl'shment and maintenance of industrial indus-trial peace in the coal industry, the elimination of wast? due to intermittent-.',' and instability, and suggest plans for dependent fuel supply. "I have taken this short cut to ; resumption of operations because T believe it to be in the interest of the public welfare. It is that simple form of adjusting disputes which answers the call of good conscience and n just civilization. When two great forces do not agree there must 'be a peace ful way to adjustment and such an arbitration opens the way. "I dn not expect renly without the due consideration. Please take the proposal to separate conferences. I wish you to appraise the situation. J weigh your responsibilities and then answer this proposal as you wish to be aopraised by American public opinion; T am speaking first of all in the public interest, hut I am likewise like-wise mindful of the rights of both workers and operators." |