The Portland daily press., 1871-03-07
U per- 0nma4ns, In Advance.

ScnuyIhih anu LehlSn regions to grant the
demands OF the men and concede the basis
The men of the Pennsylvania Coal Com
pany who had not connected themselves with
the Miners Union had been kept at work
while the others we're idle, by large and rapid
advances in wages, and at the beginning of
of September-atter suspension OF four
months-the two northern companies found
themselves in a position where both opera
tors and men were virtually arrayed against
t1em-as SO long as they could be kept in
,uieness .ois high prices for coal could De MAIN
were working.
By an arrangement made during The month
OF september, the miners reccded from their
poSltloh on the question of basis and r.,prnad
to their duty at the prices then beinojnaid INV
the pennsylvania Coal Company, which was
30 cents per ton, and A. cents per car in ad.
vance OF May prices. These rates were con-
tinued until the Iclose of November, 1870
Soen after the resumption by the two north
ern companies, coal again declined in price.
and as wages were reduced in Schuylkili
county, differences arose between the men
and the operators, which eliminated in the
strike in that region of last year, which was
finally settled by what is known as the Cow
en- Compromise" and which is now thrown
overheard by the men.
During the whole of the year 1870 the ex-
cessive rates of September, 1869, were main
tanned by the three northern companies being
nifty per cent. in advance of the rates current
In Schuylkill county, and as consequence of
such excessive and extraordinary rates were
delivering their product at an absolute loss
they therefore determined upon a reduction
which should bring them upon an equality
with other producing regions, and with wages
paid in other branches OF industry, and decid-
cd upon schedule which brought them back
to the rates paid in May, 1859. Much has
been said of this reduction as being extraordi-
nary aud excessive, but the fact is Carefully
covered up, that the artificial advance of Sep
tember, 1869, was likewise excessive and ex-
traordinary, and that the reduction simply
takes Oft an advance forced by cir
cumstances which could not be CONTROLLED
The rates offered on the 1st day OF December,
after the reduction as above, was say 63 to 10
cents per ton, and So cents to 81 20 per car,
common labor 81 55 per day, inside labor ~,
as against 35 to 40 cents per ton, 45 to IS
cents per car, 80 to 90 cents per day for COM
MOI, labor, and 81 to 81 rs for inside, paid be-
fore the war.
WHAT THE MINERS CAN EARN.
At the rates offered miners ban earn from
S1S to $50 per week, working but about six
hours per day, and better average wages than
is paid any other branch OF ofindustry in the
country.
There is no war with the Miners Union as
sucb tho onlv issue involved is the rohs Of
the owners 70 the control of their own mon.
erty. They grant the men the ownership and
control of their labor. as well as the riobt IN
Combine for ,be nnrnose of obtainine tbe
Iaroes. nossible nrice for II bnt deny The
rio6t IN dictate wbom thew shall emnIov or
who discharge. now thew shall sell or dispose
of their nronertv or to determine the am6unt
of Their proiuci;on or to assume m anv wav
to o;va III, ections in the manaoemsnt of thai.
onsra,;ons An ,hat ,bau asL of ,ha;r ,,sr IL
1T snoh &c ara d;ss.t;s6od ri,h th.;r ,er,nS
and m,da Of do;na hnsiness oil, Love tha;r
emnlov and nermif o,bars wbn s,,nd reaSu
and would GLADLY take ,beir n,aoss wers M
wav left omen f
ibe interests of the consnm;n, r,t,;o oro
| identical with those of tbs nrodncars p' and T
| transnorters in tbe issnes ;nvovsS ,s i, ordsr
| to nlace coal in their hands AT fair nrices the
movement mnst he steady and repilar Sns-
nensions fr,m wbatsver canse increase rhe
Cost In evarv denartment nar,;cnlarIv in
transnortation. and IL Is idle IN snnnosa that
transpo,t.t;on cor,nanies have anv ntber in.
teresf. than to keep nm q nnirorm movement
even at lew rates Each snsnension Iaroely
increases tbar Inrdens and IL neyer comnsnI
sad bv anv temnorary advance in ne yplne
of tho nrodnct
- Wy f
CAUSES OF THE PRESENT CoNDITlON.