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WILKES-BARRE, PA., SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21,1919
Entered   at   Wilkes-Barre,   Pa., &8   Second  Class   Mail   Matter.
PRICE SEVEN CENTS
WILSON NAMES HIS COAL COMMISSION;
HOPES FOR PERMANENT STRIKE CURE
CUMMINS R. R. BILL ADOPTED
Rnal Plans Under Way to Re¬ turn the Steam Lines to Pri¬ vate Owners
CONFEREES MEET
Washington. Dec. 20.—Outstanding provisions of the Cummins railroad bill passed by the Senate today, are:
Return of roads to private owners.
Comptilsory consolld&tion of all the
railroads of tho eoantry Into not less
than twenty, nor mort than thtrty-flv*
main systems.
Control of tlie roculs by a tranipor- tatlon board, with p«mer of Interstate  Jtmmeroe Commisaioa, with techm- cal details left to the commission.
The roads are to be allowed rates that will guarantee them 6H per cent on the aggregate property value In eacb region. Bamlngs above this figure to na divided between the. government aad roadB.
Absolute prohibition of strides and lockouts with heavy paoaltiea for vio¬ lation of this provision. IiaDbr dlffi- cuUies to be referred to a board ot four • mployces and four railroad executives with power to appeal to the Lranspor- tation board.
Tho real work of framing' leglsTa- tlon to provid© for tho future ot th* country's railroads will begin next ¦vvcek when Houso and Senate con¬ ferees on the Ksch-Cummlns' blllshoHl their tlrst meeting.
The Senate, hite to-day, made It ros.tible fot^eoMerors to get to work by passing the CJnmmins' bill 46 to 30. Tho Houso had previously passed tho J'lBch bill. ^
The two bills po differ In treating the r.iiIroad problem that it Is admit¬ ted in both houses it will be many weeks before conferees reconcile thetr (llffprcnco-s. l'orer;isl.i today of th'^ probable date of final enactment of permanent railroad IrglsJatlon ranged from February 1 to March 30. Up to Wilaon
Jleanwhile tho question uppermost •n the minds of leglBL-itors is "will President Wilson return the railroads to their owners J;inti;>ry 1, or will he hold them under Kovernment control until the ppntlinjj legislation has been agrppd upon?"
Alinot^t up to tho hour of voting to- ¦lay StnatoPK hoiird thr I'rpsident MWiiId !<ctid wonl to ('ongre.-is maklr^ I'lear h;.s intention."?. His pruiiiitiG in hi.o mt-Hfiipe at the opening of the ses¬ .sion to send a railroad nieFHagc later was made the t^'rnuiid for the assump¬ tion thaf ho would announce the date for rctiir-i nf t!u'. railroads before the .¦^'(•nuie ai-tfd.
Th*- fart th.it he dirt not do so In- iliifcc! iiiaiiv .Senators to voto for the <'ull^nitl^ bill, they .suid. agrainst their nnliiiaiion. Today's voto on tho bill i^lic^vod. S<'nator.«i declared, that It does Jlot reprrsfnt th<> Senaiea wishes. .Many Henators said thr-y vot<;fl for It simply hetau.so thry re.illEed the vital need  of  hiirryitiK .-ilouf? to  conference. I
Joker In Police Chief Ordinance;
None But State Trooper Eligible
*	
By passing legislation at a meoting yesterday to permit Mayor-elect Qaniel L. Hart to cai-ry through his plans to secure a new chief of police, city councilmen created a .situation that may always demand a man trained in the State Constabulary as a chief of police for this city. The salary of the chief was fi.xed at 15,000 by ordinance, the wording of which may make it compulsory for futuro city officials to have an ex-State trooper as police head unless the preeent ordinance now before council Is either amended or entirely rescinded.
City councilmen met In a special session to talto action. They flrst passed finally the ordinance that will permit a non-resident to beqpme police chief. The next step was to approve and order printed another ordinance Increasing the salary of the chief from $2,400 to $5,000 per year. With these changes agreed upon and written into the city laws, Mayor- elect Hart win bo able to nam*- Captain Leon Pitcher of the State police.
The clause in Mr. Bennett's ordinance which brought about the question of future chiefs reads as follows: 'iThe salary ttxed in this ordinance at this sum Is so made to secure the services of a man trained under the State police system of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania."
A PERMANENT IDEA
When tho matter was first introduced In council, only little attention "was given to this clause because the officials had in mind Mr. Hart's plan to secure the services of Captain Pitcher. After it had been approved and ordered printed for the three readin^r. of council necessary to make tt a law, it was discovered to create a situation wherein city council- men in years to come must naturally turn to the ranks of the State Con¬ stabulary for a competent man to head the Bureau of Police.
It is probable that the matter will be taken up with the city solicitor before it is finally pas.sed. He will give an interpretation. Should he decide that future city officials wil! be restricted by it and that it makeH all other men ineligible to hold th*"' office, he may suggest a change. As it stands the ordlmince will make the local position a plum to bo sought by former State policemen only.
Mayor Kosek and CouncUmen Bennett and Kniffen voted favorably on the matters taken up at the meeting yesterday. They approved finally the ordinance permitting a non-rcSident to bo named chief and they also acted favorably on the salary raiser of Mr. Bennett.
NO PRIVATE FUND
The ordinance of Mr. Bennett fixing the salary at $6,000 provides thnt the necessary money will be made up from the usual city appropriation to the Buraau of Police. This means that Mayor-elect Hart will not have to draw on the private fund of $i:i,000, whicii he said was sub.scribeU to give WUkes-Barre a good chief of police. It is possible that the pres¬ ent number of policemen will be reduced in order to make the police money do for the new arrangement.
Following Is a copy of Mr. Bennett's ordinance:
"Be it ordained by the City Council of tho city cf Wilkes-Barre, and It is hereby ordained by the authority of the same, that the salary of the chief of police of the city of WiU.es-Barre from and afier tho lirst Mon¬ day of January. 1920, shall be $ri,000 per year, paya'ule in semi-monthly installments of $208.33 1-3: said sum to be p,ayal>lc for the year bexinnint.' Jan. D. 1920, out of moneys heretofore appropriated in the Bureau of PoUce in the annual appropriation ordinance and out of moneys by trans¬ fer heretofore appropriated In the Bureau of Police, viz; item on lines Gil, (12, 618. 614 in tho annual appropriation ordinance.
"The salary fixed in this ordinance .at this sum is so made to secure • the services of a man trained under the State police system of the Com¬ monwealth of Pennnylvanla.    ' •
"TMs ordinai»ce is decla^facl to be urgent and nece.«»sary for the im¬ mediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and publication accord¬ ing to law."
BIG NC-4 OF NAVY MISSING
First Plane to Cross Atlantic Ocean Goes Astray on Voy¬ age Over the Gulf
Ll
TO END DISCUSSION OFTHEPEACEPACT
Knox Resolution to Declare War Over Passes the For¬ eign Relations Committee
ALL IN A MUDDLE
WETS GIVE UP HOPE
READ IN COMMAND       i
Mobile,   Ala,   Dec.   21.—(Sunday.)—! Tho NC-4.  the  Navy's famoua flying boat which wns    (irst to cro.ss th- At- . lantic,   was    missing In    the Gulf  of; Mexico   shortly   after   midnight.     The ] triant    craft's    coniiMiiion    plamv    tt'c | ; H-38,  on   a  flight  from   Galveston  to ; I I'ensacola, is down with a broken pro- j peller'iiear Morgan City, La., acoording, I to reports roceived here. I     Both  of tho    planes    left Galveston ; shortly after 9 o'clock yesterday morn- I ing and the  NC-4 was due here yes¬ terday afternoon.   The Gult is Ke.neral- ly  calm  and   the  fact  that   tho  NC-4 weathered the rough seas oC tho Atla;i- tUr   strengthens   the   belief   that   It   is safe but was forced to land with en¬ gine  trouble.    A heavy  fog may de¬ lay the rescue.
Naval wireless is broadcasting word i to all ves.sels in tho Gulf to bo on the . I lookout for the famous plane, and fly- : j in?  boats and  Riibmarine  chasers .-tre ' I rushing ont fiom naval stations along I th(^ coast in the hunt. i    C^ttminaniler A. C. Uo;i(i', who success- I fully took the big boat'acros.s  the At- ] lant'c wat. piloting the !^'<'-1.   His wife I is waitlnK lor him hei-e. but feels con- ; fident  he   is   safo.    Tho  boticf  ih   that I the craft  is  near the Louisiana coa!?t. ' General orders were for it to follow the I coast line.
! The NC-4 was on recruiting dot/ in ; cities alont; the prulf. After being ' brought back from Plymouth, Eng.. the I lermlTui.s of its tran.s-Atlantic flight. ¦ it left Washington about six we<>ks ago on a flisht down the Atlantic and Gulf Coast line.
Alter its work of stimulating naval aviation recruiting was «'ompleted, the ', NQ-4 was to have a permanent restinfc p!|i<Je in the National Museum, Wash-
irf,'tOIl. ;
Captain   Roper,  in   charge    of    the southeast naval recruiting district, here to    welcome      Head.    s..ay.s      he    li^s j ordert'il  a  sharji   lookout   be   kept   for
f! th« flyers.    L.it:ht  northeasterly winds i prevailed along the Gulf coast v.'ith a .   ! heavy  fos reported  in  some sections. ^ I       .Mr.'=:.  Read, wife of the N(V4 flyer. ! declared  tonight .she was not  worried
Use of Old Razor May Cause Death
Blood poiponins resultinc from a cut Inflicted by an old razoi' haa caused the critical illne.ss i.'f Hsrold Smith, of Hughes* street. l.uzeme. He is in the Xesbitt West Side Hos¬ pital. A report from that institu¬ tion last night w.a.s to the effect th.-.t there has been practically np chanp'' In his condition for the past few days. He Is .^aid to bo uncon¬ scious most of the time.
Smith's illness started about ten days ago. Several days prior ti> that he had discovered an old ra'ior lhat had not been used in many months. He tried the edge. Be¬ lieving it to be satisfactorj' he shav¬ ed himself with it. During tlie op¬ eration he Kashed himself, drawinjf blood. The cut wns not considered seriously. AVhen the in.iury bCRai: (o trouble him he souaht a physi¬ cian who diagnosed his tromhle as blood poison inf?-
His cx)ndltion rapidly became v«)rse. When it was nece.ssary t'. remove him to the Neshltt HospiU'l It was decided to secure a special nurse. The nnrsf* hns remaineil with him constantly, but in spite of this service and also hourly V-lsltf- from his physician Smith's condi¬ tion has remained rrltU;al.
It is supposed th.it lhe old raj:or used by him had gathered rust and dust from months of disuse and thai particles entered the flesh through Lho sir all out ou Ills face.
I
F
THREE MEN CONTROL THE WAGE SITUATION ON UNANIMOUS VOTE
John P. White For Miners, Rembrandt Peale For Operators and Henry Robinson F^r the Public Will Decide Future Poliey. Owners Dispute President's StatementB.
PUBLIC CLOSELY GUARDED.
'because of Bead's delav.    "I figure "ne
Liquor's Present Status in Wil-1 ¦" ^"^^'" "'^'^ *a>fi ^'i«=" t'>«i ^^-'^ t-'¦
^ ¦'   '   was stiil  missing tonight.
Wafihlngton. Dec. 20.—Senator Lodge, Republican leader, tonight blocked an effort   by   Senator   Underwood.   AJa- bam-i. to havo the Scnato create an of¬ ficial committee un treaty compromlss. In Kpitc of an appeal by Underwood to Tl     v; „  ,                1    .,    ,    1    ,      ,   , "let tlie. Christmas spirit prevail" Ix>d4.Te The .senate p.,.VO.I conclas veiy that   ^^^ ^ ^^           j, ^.onelderation Of Un¬ it   does,   not   f.ivor   continued   tfovcrn-: ,^,.J1J:„H..,  U»„i „   r,..-   o..^,,i„.™«„.
son's Hands — Will Depend; on Supreme Court
.\C-1
Employees of Central Railroad Shops Receive Generous Holiday Remembrance
EIGHT HUNDRED BENEFIT
PUSH OHIO VERDICT
One hundred thousand dollars as Chrlstma.? presents will comc to nearly two thousand employees of the Cen¬ tral Railroad of Xew Jersey. These men are employed at the various re¬ pair shops of the L. and S. division, more than eight hundred of them be¬ ing employed at Ashley.
The word comes from the Railroad administration on the claim of back p.ay due since May first to September flrist of this year. The Ashley em- ployee'.s eight hundred of them, are sakl to have received yesterday neat purses, averftginp It  Is said sixty dol-
          Some  employees received
* even $100 while others went as low hs $80. Last August negotiations wert opened between the Federated   Unions
nicnt oper.ition f'>r any letiifthy pcri'jd. however, by rejecting Senator La Kol- letti.''s propoRiil for a two-year exten¬ sion of guvernment «:ontrol, the vote belnp 65 to 11. It also refused on acv- oral roll rall.s to modify or eliminate the bHI's strike provisions which would iwnali2c strikers with fine and im¬ prisonment.
Drastic Provisionc.
d<Twood'H   resolution   for  appointment i by \'ice I'resident Marshall of a con¬ ciliation committee of ten. |
l.'nderwood made his peace, move un¬ expectedly aoon after Senator Knox. Pennsylvania, had presented to the | Senate a fa^tirable report from the for¬ eign relations committee, on hU reso- { lution declaring the war at an end. I Knox made no effort to pass his rcs<>- j lution which wa* approved earlier in , As it was .-^eiit to conference thoi the day by the committee, but ask-'d ' Cunimln.s bill remained In all \'ilalIthat it go to the calendar. His pur- | particulars the .-^ame measuro that pose is to call It up soon after the holi- came from committee. Resides the jday recess. In appealing to Senators antl-Btrlke clause the principle prBvi-i Lodge and Hitchcock, the party lead- elon of the Cummins bill are: Re-j ers to join with him in sujrport of his turn of the roads to the owners on the resolution. Underwood said: last day of the month in which the "I think if the Senate would pause bill becomes law; reorsanlzation of the now and adopt this resolution that byi roads hy consohd»ition into not less^ the time we meet in January, a position j dar and could not be acted upon before than twenty nor more than thirty-live: probably would be worked out on which the date constitutional prohibition l;e- synfems;   creation  of a  transi>ortation; the   contending   forces   could   get   to-' comes a reality.
board of five members to be appointed j gether and we could celebrate the new j The most that wets could hope from by the President with hoard powers of j year by acclaiming the peace of the; Congress would be eleven days, :is direction and supervision; a guarantee' whole world. This resolution can do j both Houses recessed to-day uiuil of a return of flve and one-half percent.; no harm even If the committee fails. If/January 5. The prohibition m.ijorily to the roads; appropriation of $600.- I It succeeds, its work will be acclaimed. In the House Is such that a special rule 000,000 as a revolving fund from which \ by the nation. Is impos.<;ible.
the government can make loans to thej "I want to appeal to Senators Lodsej "I believe Congress is guilty of bad roads; provision for refunding to the and Hitchcock to evidence willingness! faith, if the liquor interests are not to government of the sums advanced to to come together in a committee look-j be allowed to dispose of their stocks. the railroads during federal contixal. ing to the confirmation of peace and j S^tephens said. "WTien the constini- this refunding to extend over a period enabling the Senate to carry out what \ tutional amendment was passed, the of ten years and provision for ad- ,« jn the heart of every American cil- j drys agreed to give a year to get rid lustment of wage  disputes and other  iz^n at  this Christmas  time." | of the li.-iuor in i.'ie <t>untrj."
labor controversies. | a  Misunderstanding i     "War   time     prohibition     may   take
Senator Cummins, of Towa. whose | Underwood stated that misunder-' away more than half of that property nam" the bill be.-irs, declares that Its j standing of hte position had been | when Congress could in a day repeal enaftment would save the people of the ! caused and stated that he stands first i »*•"
United States ahout ?3(»0,0(0.000 a year i of ;U1 unqualified ratification.    Know-!     "^^^ main  hope I  now  see for the and would provide    efficiency In    tl.*^ management of the countrj's transpur- tation.
The bill's opponents declared that if?> plan of reorganization would prove in¬ adequate, would stitle healthy compc ¦ titlon and objected stron.arly to the Koarsnteed r«tum.=< whtch, they derlar- Kl. MBounted to a government subsidy fer the railroads at the ex.oense of the  ••payers. Hostility also developed to tJje bill's labor provisions, but it was not strong enough to effect any change.
Wathington, Dec. 20.—The Navy do-
I partment at midnight was without ad-
I vices as lo the rt ports that the  NC-4
land 11-38. naval flying boats, are miss-   '^''^ each.
jlng In fhe Gulf of Mexico.
  Press   repoits   caused     the  Depart-
Washineton   r>ec   'ft     Anti r.^r.i,iv.i   I met>t. however, to call for details from ...,,,      ^ ,      ,.
tion  leaded-, mCon«;^s7^^a?^t^^^^^^ commander of the Gulf naval dis-   "'   ^^^ '^""^••^'   R-;>'"-o*'i   repair  shops
lion  leaaers m congress today st-ated a,.^^ t^e railroad administration for In-
that   practically   iJl   plans   to  force   a vote   on   wartime   prohibition   befor"
constitutional   prohibition becomes ef-i     '^,    '-- t v  ;, - ,•-.¦¦•-]     xhp. grievances werp referred to an
fective have been abandoned ; ordered out from tlio naval an- station I     The giie\ances were rererren lo an
Responsibility    of    ending   w.irtlme''"'"'"  '""^''''^ *':,''T^V^'' ^'^'^ i^'^":'''
famous   iransatlantie   flyer,   and   tho
11-38.-which are repKirted mls.«iing off the Ixiulsiana coast tonight In a flif,ht -•¦rom fialvesion. Texa.'i, to Mobile. Ala. Naval wireless is broadcasting tliC Word to all vessels to be on tho look¬ out for the missing flyer.
Pensneola. Fls., Dec 20.—Speedy fly- j freascs In wages for th© mechanics and ;ng- boats anil .submarine ch.i-^ers were ! other  workmen, ordered out from tlio naval air station
ending   -w.irtlme'
witb tl
Relief was exprcK.«ed by several'
dent.
that he haa the jiower to end "war drought" under the supreme court opinion, hy a proclamation.
Should C'oni^ress declare peace, he would have to state lhat tho army is demobilized hefore the ban can be lifted.
Since tho defeat in the House Agri¬ culture Committee recently of the bill
Tmgedy has followeil the succespfiil cro.ssing of the Atlantic ocean by air¬ plane.    Captain .lohn Alcock, first man ¦ to make the non-stop flight, wns killed repealing     wartime     prohibition,     the : in Kn^latid hy a fall on Friday.  World- "wets" have been busy seeking in some ' wide   int. re.st   center.s   in   the   fate   of way to get the repealer up before tre, Lieutenant Read, who was first of al! House. Representative Stephens, Ohio,. to cross the Atlantic through the .iir, was plannintr to move to discharge the  making stops along the Azores route. Agriculture Committee from considera¬ tion of the bill.
He has found that, even if the House i agreed to this, the bill would have to I take its place at the foot of the calen-
COMMUNIST CONVERTS
ARE MANY IN AMERICA
Boston.  Dec.   20.—"There  are  60,000 members of the communist party in tiio, United    States   and    5.000    in    Ma.s.«a- I 'i" tonight.
-t. ..,.-.. ... _      —    .. "Tf   *V.^   .....
chusetts." declared John J. Ballem, an alleged "red" and communist loader, upon his arrival here from New Or¬ leans tonight in charge of two police inspectors.
Ballam who was arrested in Nptv Orleans aboard a steamer hound for Mexii'O, will be brought to trial on tho charse of promotini; anarchy and for distributing revolutionary literature, in connection with tho May Day riots here.
Ballam was former editor of the Communistic paper published here, called  The Worker.
ONE   MAN   KILLED
N'ewarK, V. J. Dec. 20.—One maa was Mlled another is dying a."? the re¬ ault of an explosion at th"^ Caico Chem¬ ist plant tonight. The eharrrd remains of Jam»s Lott, u uesro. was found by fireman. John nillot, ji worker who ran to the btjlldinc with a fire exllng- iifsher, was so badly burned that ho Is dyiag in a bospitaJ.
,   ,     , ,, n.     r    . JAP PICTURE BRIDES
lip: this to be impossible, however, helmets, is in the Ohio referendum over- r»ar»ni-f% r-nna
>c-lteve8  every  effore  should  be madej riding the aciion  of the state legisla-; BARRED FROM AMERICA
•(\ the mildest reservations possible.     ; ture   In   ratifying    the   constitutional ¦ 	
"If this Senate is not •willing to ratify amendment. Should the Supreme: Washington Dec 20—The practice the treaty with reservations, tlMi Court upliold this, the twelve states I of importing "pieture brides" under .\merican people wili demand final'having referendum law.s, would have .^^hich nesrlv 4 SOO .Japanefie wom.n ratification in some form before msJiyjthe same right in withdrawing from ^re estimated to have come into Amer- weeks have elapsed, Underwood de-j ratifying the amendment which would, jca the last eleven years, wil! be brok- dared.      'I   beUea-e   somebody   repre-, then be unconstitutional. , ^„   „     ,„,   ,^^   .Japanese   governm.>nt.
senting the  Senate must take this In  a~kJo..o.i .„ oi,-.i„u„-      i %„       "
MITCHELL WINS  BOUT .Ambaissador Shid^hara   declared m   f.
Philadelphia,        Dec.        20.—Ritchie 1"°'^^ '^'^ ^'^^ ^^^'' lepartment tonight. Mitchell of Milwaukee outfought Pete'      These    Japanese    "picture    brides"
hand. It must be made their official business. We can't stand on the floor and do it. It can only be done b.v a body meeting around a table receiving proposals and considering comproaoises. r now ask unanimous consent for im¬ mediate consideration of the resolu¬ tion."
Senator Lodge said that he did not thiolt the mutter should be decided Just on th"; eve of adjumment.
"Under the circumstances T tant consent to it," said Lodge, "t .should like an opportnrity to coneult with Re- (COBtlimed On Taft a.)
Hartley of New York iri a six round' ^^^'^ *"^*'" e"t«^r'n=: 'he United .States bout here to-night. I'** ^^^ ""ate of from six to seven thou-
. __---  sand  .1   year.     A  gentleman's  agree--
OUBLIN   IN  TURMOIL ment wa«< reached between the United
Dublin,  ly^c.  20.-An  uneasy feeling! States and .fapsn in ISH. prevails  in   tlie  Irish   capital   tonight. I      The announcement by Japanese gov- %Vhi!e the puhiic is quiet, it is gcnerailv lernment that rt will break up the prac- underatood  martial   law  probably v,'lll I tice  followe.i  .several   months  negotla- be proclaimed. Itions  by the .state department.    State
Lord French's secretary tonisrht department commented favorably on said: "Ffis excellency is quit<* well: In'the frlendslup shown by the Jap-jnase fact he waa never better." '   ; government iu making the concession.
Washington. Dec. 20.—President Wilson tonight named til* fcU lowing men as members of his coal conunission to investigate the min* ing situation:
HENRY M. ROBINSON.
JOHN P. WHITE.
REMBRANDT PEALE.
They 'will look into mining conditions throughout the c^mkMy and recommend changes in wages, if suiy are warranted by the eco¬ nomic situation.
White was forrher president of the United Mine Workcfs of America and ivill represent the miners on the commissioa.
Pe^Ie is a coal operator in the Pennsylvania field and will speak for the operators in the conferences.
Robinson, former member of the shipping board, was named to represent the public.
All have accepted the appointment, it was announced. Their acceptcinces were received late today.
A meeting of the ne-w commission will be called at an early date in Washington, the President said in his letter to the three members. The wording of this commtmication is construed to mean that all End¬ ings of the tribunal shall be unanimous. This will effectually pre¬ vent the representative of the public. Robinson, from beihg over¬ ruled by the men speaking for capital and labor. The President further set forth that powers heretofore vested in the fuel admitttitra- tor will be transferred to the commission, if readjustmmt of coal prices shall be found necessary.
Final Settlemenf.
Four pages of the letter are taken up by a review of the coal in¬ dustry from the date of the Washington wage Eigreement. October 5, 1917. to the Indianapolis agreement recently reached.
Tlie President attaches "tremendous importance" to the work of the commission.
"If the facts covering all phases of the coal industry necesaary* to a proper adjustment of the matters submitted to you shall be in-< vestigated and reported to the public," Wilson said in the letter. "% am sure that your report, in addition to being accepted as the baai^ tor a new waige agreement for the bituminous coal miners, will pro>-i mote the public welleure and make for a settled condition in the indus¬ try. No settlement can be had in this matter, permanent and laat-. ing in ita benefits, affecting either the miners, the coal operators, or the general public, unless the findings of this body are comprehensive, in their character and embrace and guard at every point the publio interest. To this point I deem it important your decisions be reached by unanimous action. I shall be pleased to call an early meeting ofS the commission in Washington so that you may promptly lay oul| plans for your work."
Operator* Deny W3son
Direct issue with a statement in the President's announcement oP the appointment of the coal commission that the operators werel consulted as to the conditions of the agreement entered into betwecrt the government and the miners, was taken tonight by the operators. Shortly after the President's announcement, the executive committeo of the bituminous coal operators issued the follo'wing:
"The operators have not agreed to any memorandum sMch a^ that mentioned in the President's letter to Messrs. Robinaon, WVita smd Peale, involving a basis of adjustment of the coal strike.
"The operators were not consulted as to the terms and coftdi-* tions of the agreement entered into between die government and miners."
While the (iterators were handing out the statement repudiating the President's annoimcement which referred particularly to them. Attorney General Palmer branded as untrue the statement by Robeit M. Ogle, chairman of the executive committee of the bituminous coal operators, before a Senate conunittee yesterday that he (Palmer) had endeavored to induce the coal operators to compromise with the miners on a basis of more than the 14 per cent wage increase.
Palmer also attacked that part of Ogle's testimony whetesn Ogle stated the President's plan 'was not satisfactory to the miner*. ~^ "I can only say that in every statement the President made tipon tho matter he promised a commission to investigate and determine the matters in dispute and that, after each statement 'was published, the operators said they agreed to the President's plans," PeJmer declau'Cd.
Production Normal
Hundred per cent, resumption of work at mines haa been reached where mines ¦were affected by the recent general strike and where the operators are not obstructing the return of nuners-~United Mine Worker officials here stated tonight
Except in a section of Kansas, where there are local dispute*, in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, where there are OAYC ITAI lAKI I CAncDl *^^' shortages, and in Alabama and some parts  of   West  Virginia. oATo 11ALIAN LtAuCn | where operators are refusing to take back miners   who   struck,   the
situation is back to normal.
Although 63 per cent of the membership of the miners unions are back at w^ofk, this is a normal average as compared with other years, as there never was a time when all the miners were at work, it was stated.
The charge that operators in West Virginia '^re refusing to take back men are supported by affida'vits, miners' officials here stated tO'*, night More than a thousand ntiners are idle because operators rt-^ fused to reinstate them.
"We are quite certain the operators can stand a part of another wage increase, but can't say how much." it was said by mine workers'^ offidds. I
In support of President Lewis' statement that miners fulfilled the agreement to return to work, the railroad administration an¬ nounced today that Thursday's production totalled 1,446,500 tons, 9 7 per cent of normal production.
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Hrbitration board. The award wa5 made in September, dating from May 1st. Wages were paid on the new rate froin September Ist with the under¬ standing work would begin immediate¬ ly on the back wages. Tho pay tvM came fo Ashley yesterday afternoon, just in time to make 800 workers Jovial and lielp them spread good cheer for Ohrlstmae. The Li. & S. dlvialon cx- tend.i from Scranton ii^to Jersey L'ily. and it Is estimated ful.y 1600 men are favored by the award.
MAY MAKE MISTAKE
IN SMASHING PACKERS
New York Uee. liO.—Disintegrating the piickers for the sole reason thsx they ai-e big as a mistake*«nd the pub'ic will some day realize it. .said fIovernor Goodrich, of Indiana, in a speech be¬ fore the New Kngland Fociety in Broo!:-
If the packers .is now crg.ani?ed cr,n put on the table .if the Anjerican con¬ sumers foods cheripcr than any oth-^r competitor, the.v whould be ailowed lo do so," said Goodrich. "Tho cheaper the better."
(Joodrich n«?.«;erted the dlsf^rtcyratlon of the Standard Oil Co. a f<-w years af,'o failed to .iccompUsh the desired resull of lowering oil and gasoline prices.
The Governor declared Will H. H.'iy.s will be retained chairman of the Ile- I-'Ublican  National  committee
PEACE TREATY ILLOGICAL
Rome, Dec. 19.—Keorganisation of Europt! under the peace treaty is Il¬ logical and "revision is imperative," I>eputy Xligloli. leader of the radical wing of the Catholic group in the Chamher of deputies, declared tonIi;ht. Mlgloli claimed to control id members of the radical Catholic.-!. Several dayj ago he outdid the Socialists in Intro¬ ducing a motion to wre.«it land from the wealthy and turn it over to peasants.
After the attitude Uiken by the So¬ cialist and Catholic deputies, introduc¬ tion into the chamber of the roya! de¬ cree ratif>'ing the peace treaty has been postponed indefinitely. Migloli said In inter'view. The treaty should be re- vised to prevent now wars, he said.
King Victor Kmniaviiiel several weeks ago ratified the treati>8 with Germany and Au.stria hy royal decree.    Such a | dtrree  never   has  been  ovefidden   by the Chamber of Deputies. *