The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-02-09
COMPANY BOARDING HOUSES.

TINS Silver Reef miners, through
their strike, bring prominently to the
front a matter that Is the cslse Of
constant dispute and Trouble in the
mining camps. We refer to the COM
psny boarding houses, and the course
pursued in regard to them. Not q
few of the mining companies-pretty
nearly all of them we believe-hsve
boarding houses, at which they com.
pei miners to eat. With some it is a
rule that al laborers must board at
the company tabls. II q miner re-
fuses, he is at once discharged, and
his place filed by enc who will COM
ply With the arbitrary rule. lhe
price of board is fixed, and it makes
no difference whether better viotusls
can be obtained elsewhere for The
same money, or whether good-enough
board can be had for less; the work
man must cat wAat is sci before him
and pay the price asked. He is not
allowed any of the advan ages OF
competition as to price or quality of
food. We have heard Of instances
where the rule has been so rigidly
enforced as to require the miner to
board with the company when bic
own family is in the camp, and he
might board himself at home for haIfI
the money that he is required to pay,
The companies present various
reasons and excuses for their
action in this matter. One Is
that they are obliged TO set
table for soma of their men,
aud as the cost OF boarding person |
decreases as the number of boarders
increases, they want as many as pos
sible to eat with them, so as 10 Lessen
the cost to each, and enable the house
TO be kept open without loss to the
company. Another reason set forth |
is that the companies want Their
Borkmen to be ready to work at the |
proper hours, and this can be best
brought about by having the meals |
served regularly. There are favorable
points in both OF these ressonF, but
they are hardly sufficient 10 warrant
the enforcement of the iron rule. A
miner should bave the right and |
privilege OF boarding where he plesses,
and OF obtaining al the advantages
and benefits to be derived from active
competition in the eating house
business. II he is not ct his work ct
the appointed hour, that is a matter
which employers may very easily
remedy. But it should appear to the
latter az il does to the disinteresled
public, a manifest injustice to force
their employes to eat at particular
tables ami pay special price for the
beard. Miners cannot be blamed if
they sometimes rebel against a rule
which has 10 right to exist, and
which is in the nature of slaYery.
4 merchant would have as good
right to say his clerks should
board with him and pay his
price for their entertainment.
It would be different if the miners
we're employed at specified sum per
day land board" as farm hands,
tean2sieTs and ether laborers are
sometimes hired; bat the miner is
given a certain wage, and ought to b.
lefs free to spend it when, bow and
where be pleases. so long as be does
not waste time that belongs to his
employer; and especially should he
be allowed to obtain meals where he
can get them the cheapest. The
mining companies will have to make
a change in the offensive rule, for it
has become a source of quite general
discomfort among miners, who will j
rebel against its enforcement, just as
the Reef men have made that one !
ground for striking. L