The New York herald., 1871-03-02
No surrender at Less Thar
the $3 Basis.
The Reading Railroad Increases
It's Tolls.
The Northern Central Railroad
to Follow Suit.
The Troubles More Complicated
Than Ever.
MAuANoY Cry. Pa. March l. 1871.

MAHANOY CITY, Pa, March !, 1871.
meeting OF the General Council OF the Working
mems benevolent Association, consisting OF thirty
one members, or one member 10 every thousand
men, as lOliows:-Luzernc 10; Schuyikill, 10; Nor
thumoerand, 3; Carbon, 2; COLUMBIA, 2-met ut TINS
place to-day 10 take Into consideration the recent
offers OF the operators, OF which the following Is
copy:-
That the Schuylkill region oner to the men of their
district lor tht year ISL the Two dollar and MY
cent piSis as agreed upon IN November last, slid
Ing up ami ioW at the rate OF one per cent advance
and decline upon wages ami contract work for every
turee cents yer ton advance and decline III the prce
of coal ut .ort Carbon; provided that the men shall
not be paid at Il higner rate under this basis than
thei would De entitled To wheu coal Is three doirs
per toi at Fort CARBON until ali the regions 20 10
work.
That the Lchigh region offer to their men the iol-
LOWING rates Ior ths year lo7l:-Wnen Coal Is nve
dollars On board at Elzabethport and Port john
son, outside wages 10 ue lrJni nne uOllars to ten
dollars ni,y cents; i,sde wages, eleven 10
twelve doiiars: miners wages, fourteen dollars;
contract WORK, ten per cent less inan ut the five dol
lar basis of ia I year; with an advance and declne
OF La per cent ON wages and contract wolk Tor
every one doiar advance and decline III the price uf
coal at Elizabethport or Port Johnson; provided
OF wases on contract work shall De pIil tnan toe
men would be entitled 10 receive upon TINS new
basis whei coa Is SIX dollars per Ton on board Ut
l. lzabelnpo.t or Port Joh.ison
mat Tie delaware aud Hudson Canal Company,
the Delaware, Lackawinna and Western Railroad
Company. ana the fennsylvania Coii Company con.
tlnue eir present oIer with the right 10 modify t
from time 10 tne, SO as to MAKE the wages PAID by
tnem as nearly equivalent AS practicable to what
may be 1of The time being paid III the Scnu7lAl ald
Leniesn regols.
There was some discussion In regard 70 admitting
reporters, and on vo;e being taken 1t was decided
TO admit them by % toe.
resolution was adopted censuring reporter OF
the Phlade phia inquirer for publishing that the
Worklngmens Benevolent Association were meet
TO draw lots to select members to commit murders,
OuIrages, &c.
IL was moved and seconded that the Association
still adhere to the basis 1862 and do not
any interference of the railroads ana Carrying com
panies lNoTE BY REPoRTER.-The basis OF 1859
was three dollars for lower and Eve dollars Tor upper
counties.l
An amendment offered BY Mr.. Sney, to allow
schuylki County TO slide down'to the So so basis
was lost. = -.f-f "a, (
Mr.. slney then read the following despatch-
PHILADELPHIA, March l, 1871.
On and after Monday neat tolls viii be advanced
'''"-'s FRANRLi, B. GowEN, President.
The reading Of this despatch was received with
the Creates excitement and went far TO determine
the men 10 scA 10 their p eSent course Of acton.
The following Is an official report Of the condition
OF the different c)unties:-
Lulerne reported all ldlc All firm for old basis OF
1859.
Carbon reports the same
Northumoer ;nd-Neariy all working on the basis
OF 1853, with scale oI three per cent; those not
working are kept Idle by exorbtint tolls on rail-
roads.
Scauyikil!-Small portion working on The 1859
basis; balance kept Idle ~ action OF railroads.
Columha-One colery " grkng on the basis OF
| 1862; reinaner kept Idle by action OF railroads.
The proceedings OF the meeting were conducted In
| an orderly manner. and the action OF the miners
was very unanimous. Today procee ilngs have
setci the question OF resumption for an inde1nlte
period. The miners expressed themselves "a posi-
lively determined TO accept nothing lower than
three dollar b sis. Unless the operators make a
better oIer It Will be hard to determine how the
question Will end
A number OF miners families in the vicinity OF
HaZieton are dependIng on the Workingmens Be.
nevolent Associat ons treasury for living. Tile
funds oil tue association are daily running
lower. 1t Is estimated by competent judges
that the Workingmen's Benevolent Association
dollars LETT. WHAT the suffering miners VIII do when
this supply runs out remains 10 be seen. AS yet
order has reigDed In all the mining districts. IN
Work!ngmen's Benevolent Association having Ike p
the more restless spirits In subJcctoD. Operat or
,hink me miners WIN soon give up. ana they know
ingnen's Benevolent Association the VIII lol-
low III quick succession and their point will be
gained.
political aspect has begun to tnge the dclibcra-
tions OF the Miners Union resolution was offered
to-day that the miners before voting for any officer
either local or national shall require him 10 bind
himself to uphold the interests OF the miners. MIR.
Siney says that the day not far distant when the
| out the state and nation.
| The deliberations OF the Miners Council win be
| The Northern Central Railroad will increase their
tolls on coal shipment to-day, TO block out the MI
put coal in the market. The Miners Journal to-day
| says tho Northern Central Railroad Company viii
also Increase their tolls to correspond with the tolls
on coal on their road This curtalls the shipments
from the Shainoktn region to considerable extent.
II the men demand high wages. and thus check the
| production OF coal. the companies are determined
| 10 have high tolls also. In no case have the rail-
| road companies violated their charter In ch arges
they have made so far. We were told yesterday that
not onc OF tie companies would abate their tolls II
| they had to hold out the whole season, until the
men were willing TO 90 work far rates ana not
| cheek the trade again. Tney say IT Is question
whether such ignorant fools-or knaves II they pre-
! fer IT, as many OF the leaders have proved tnem
selves to be-sall control and direct their property
Independent OF the owners. That Is the question to
be settled In this contest and 1t must lie settled
| otherwise every property holder in mines &c, ma
US wen surrender all his property to these lead:
| crs and their friends