The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-04-01
CITY INTELLIGENC
For additional Ctr Se,ss see Inside Pages.
TIE COAL TRADE.


THE English System of fArbitrRtiOn-An
Important Offer 60 the Schuyllill County
Men by the OperRtors-The Complete
RTonnage for the Week, Etc.
The Legislative committee appointed for the
purpose oil inquiring into the coai trouoies mas
concluded its researches during the present
week and will report shortly. That the report,
however, after all the expensive proceedings OF
the committee, will be of any practical use is
greatly doubted. They will probably recon-
mend arbitration as the method of settling the
troubles, they not having found that any OF the
railroad companies have violated their charters;
but this recommendation will amount to nothing
unless the parties interested see fit to adopt 1t.
By arbitration they probably mean the particular
method of proceeding in use in some of the
English mines, which has there proved satistac-
tory, and not the SOL called arbitration between
the rival interests at present in use in Schuylkil
county, which does no good whatever In over
coming the difficulties. Under the present cir
cumstances any new plan WHICH PROMISES Th sue
are set one way and are determined not to yield
an inch; the operators and railroad men are as
firmly set in an opposite direction. Both are
about equally strong, and the consequence Is
dead lock. With this state of affairs, the present
is perhaps the easiest time to introduce a new
system, but the trouble is how to introduce it.
How shall the different interests be brought to
agree to any terms satisfactory to each?
The Nottingham plan of arbitration, we believe
it is called, is the one to which all parties now
lean favorably. But one difficulty is how to
the miners will not give up. If the miners insist
upon retaining their organization entire, aud
under their old leaders, with the same power
still in their hands, the new plan cannot be in
troduced. II is, however, possible to bring it to
pass in connection with the Union alone; but
the leaders, by the very system of arbitration,
will have to be deprived of the despotic powers
they now possess. And If the miners do agree
to this which it is very probable they will con-
siderng that they are mostly tired of the gov
eminent under which they have been working
for SO long, the other side must also concede
something, and there are many things that they
could concede if they felt so inclined, which
would go far to produce better feeling all
around. One thing especially will have to be
done away with before there is any true arbitra-
tion, or before the new system can be OF any
value, and that is that the operators forever
cease making private arrangements with the
miners to strike for the operators benefit, when
full. The operators will have to arbitrate
better condition of the market, or
take the chances of what will happen according
to the legitimate laws of trade Arbitration,
however, is as necessary between the carrying
companies and the operators of our regions as
between either the companies and the miners
or the operators and miners. If the plan pro-
posed could be extended to include this also,
and be of actual service, its usefulness would
be intellectually greater.
Since the judicial investigation has been
closed, the operators of the Schuylkill region
have made a special and important offer to
their men. The proposition looks towards a
speedy resuption of work. 1t was agreed upon
by the operators on Wednesday, although it
was not then made public. The following is
the substance of it,
/, The w. b. A. to abandon all future attempts to
IN IN any M OF e1 or
discharge of any one, so that the operator shall
have the exclusive control and management OF his
II. The operators to agree that no one is to be
discharged simply on account of his belonging TO the
w ID ana n ON
in behalf of the w. b. A., but that all men are
to be left free to join the W. b. A. or not, as they
The above two clauses are to be imperative and
binding and are not to be changed or varied by any
reference or arbitration whatever.
I'LL Work to be resumed as soon as practicable,
and the rate Of wages for the year 1871 to be ad-
iusted as follows "A Board OF Arbitration and Con-
Citation consisting or six members OF the w. b. A.
and six operators chosen by their respective orga-
nizations, is to meet at Pottsvle on or before the
2Ot6 Of of April to whom shall be submitted the re-
spective offers OF each party. ,.-.,..
I've the nnwer of deciding between the offers sub
mitted, or rejecting either and adopting tnTd, or
they are ssS e e sS re-
fore any discussion of the propositions) whose dec
sion upon the rate OF wages for tne year 1871 Is 10
w. Such Board Of Arbitration and Cancellation
with an umpire whose decision is to be final, is to
be maintained for the future settlement and ADJUST
ment of al. differences between the parties, except
that the two first articles OF this memorandum are
cardinal ones which are not to be varied or changed
y any '''''' V WILLIAM KENDRIcE.
e. BoRDA,
j. X SIGFRIED,
On behalf OF the operators Of Schuylkill county.
1t remains to be seen what action this propo-
sition will bring forth. Poor Schuylkill has to
bear the brunt of the trouble, and some special
arrangement will have to be agreed upon for Its
benefit. 1t is the most lawless OF all the coal
regions, and consequently the operators there
worst time. 1t also has not the ad-
vantage of having its coal mines and its trans
portation facilities managed by one and the
same interest. Its miners are more Ignorant
than those of other regions, being mostly
Irish, and consequently are harder to
cent miners, the English, German, and
Welsh, have long since emigrated to other parts
The other regions have no idea of the peculiar
troubles of the Schuylkill region, which accord
ing to all accounts are increasing continually
The suggestion of the Miners journal made
lately that the region be declared in state o.
disorder and organization (Which indeed it is)
and that, as final remedy, it be declared under
martial law and the military invoked for it,
relief, is decidedly good one; and if something
is not speedily done, just that thing will come
TO pass, and nothing else.
The following is the complete summary of thu
trade for the past week, as reported for th'
Pottsyille Miners journal of to-day
1870. 1871.
WEEK. TOTAL. WEEK. TOTAL. DEC