Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1882-08-19

! disposing Of the questions ser'G'im,
the companies wanting Il statement
of altth points and the miners desir-
ing settlement of each question
separately.
Mr.. Rees went on to say that the
miners held to the old hours a. IN.
to 5 p. m.
Mr.. Mayer, interrupting, suggested,
that this meant about 81 hours work.
Mr.. ]. P. Moody said that the Hof-
man drivers and lsborers frequently
made more than 10 hours.
Mr.. Mayer, holding with vice-like
grip to his divinely inspired records,
beat Mr.. Moody down that the aver
age was not over 81 hours. In Clear
field IL hours is days work.
Mr.. Rees went on. He had heard
that it was the companys intention
to refuse work to some men. On his
side it had been determined that
every man who had worked on the
18th Of March should be reinstated
on resumption. There should be no
blacklisting and drivers wages muet
be maintained at pro rata rate.
Mr.. Lee wanted to understand if
Mr.. Rees meant to say that the new
men should be sent away.
Mr.. Rees replied that they wanted
the old men put back.
During this discussion Mr.. 0'Btien
said that s hours constituted a day q
work in the United States and 10
hours in Maryland he was willing
to split the difference.
Mr.. Price thought it would be well
to have committees at the mines to
adjust differences.
Mr.. Mayer had also thought COM
mittee of presidents of companies to
hear and redress complaints was de-
sirable. Discussion Of that point now,
however, is premature.
A forcible presentation of the mi
ners' side of the trouble was made by
Mr.. Price. He asked Mr.. Mayer
whether he was aware that some
times two miners of equal ability, one
coming out of the pay Office with 1875
or $40 more than the other ? He re.
ferred to various pimilar evils result
ing from clique-work among bosses.
Mr., Mayer knew nothing of these
things still he could not accept
striking as q proper remedy for the
evils complained of.
Mr.. Price hated the word, strike.
But there were many things in and
around the mines not generally
known.
Mr.. Lee asked if there were 10.
too many men in the mines.
Mr.. Price referred to clique who
favored certa in parties at the expense
of others.
Mr.. Rees said at one time places in
the Consolidation mines were very
scarce, and regular men had frequent
ly to give way because bosses EN-.
ployed outsiders. Great dissatisfac.
ton was occasioned in this way.
Mr.. Dufey in confederation referred
to some trouble at Hoffman last Feb
ruary. Without designing to i'm.
peach Mr.. Mayors veracity he made
statement which conhicted with the
record" Mr.. M. brought Dufey
up pretty roundly for his skepticism
Each showed grit, however, and the
case on the miners' side was an
nounced closed.
Mr.. Mayer admitted the superior
value of our coal, but it does not
count in market. Ninety per cent. o.
the consumers will pay no moro for il
than Clearfeld. Hence, we must
come down to the Clearfeld rates for
mining. He admitted the irregular
itY of work his company was en-
deavoring to make it regular as prsc-
ticabls. He asked-why the men
had fixed S tons as days work
He wanted regular work, but the ma
ture of the business is such that it
cannot be wholly 80. Abiding to
the blacklist" he characterized the
discharge of the new men as most dis
honorable, and he would not think Of
the act for moment. He would not
BLACKLIST" he had over 1000 men
on his roll and ought not 10 have
over 700. He wants to get rid Of
those only upon whom failure to gel
work would fall lightest-men without
families. The rate had been care.