The Labor enquirer., 1884-11-15

We asked an advance of 10 per cent for
all men that were not receiving above
$3.50 per day. The operators, on the
other hand submitted proposition max
ing the minimum wage rate for outside
labor at 50 per day.. A counter PROPOSE
tion was again offered by the latter to
the effect that one class should be paid
$3.50, another class s2.25, and all others
So. To neither of those would we agree,
and the final outcome of the difference
was, a motion that the proposition be
placed on file and be left over for the de-
cision of an umpire.
The screen question was then raise6
and after lengthy discussion a resolu-
ton was offered and passed to the effect
'that it is the sense of the board that
the screens to be used at each and all
the mines in groups l and 2 shall be such
thatthe conditions be just and equal"
I'VE. afterwards submitted the following
proposition: THAT the screens shall be
twelve feet long, four feet wide, with
three-quarter inch fiat bars, and space
of one and one-quarter inches apart, and
and pitch of from twenty-eight to
| thirty degrees" The board resolved to
caH for the testimony of an expert to
testify as to the proper degree of pitch.
Mr.. Mcneil, state inspector of mines, was
accordingly summoned before the board
to give evidence. This resulted in mod
flying the degree of pitch, to read from
twenty-six to thirty. With this excep
.tion, the resolution embodying the dl-
mensions was finally agreed to.
This will be the means of getting an
uniform screen adopted at all the mines
in said groups, to the end that all opera
tors, as we'll as operatives, be placed upon
an equitable footing. This will be a
great gain to the men employed at the
mines where diamond screens are at
present used. The operators having
such screens IN use claim it is impractic-
able for them to make the change for a
length of time. In that case we shall
exact certain conditions that will be an
equivalent to the miner What that will
be cannot yet be said. My next report
will no doubt contain the information.
We now expecI to adjust all the demands
and grievances of groups l and . by the
close of this week. Then we will enter
into the adjustment of matters at
Franceville.
Here, the adjustment of the ton is the
all,importantmatter we will have to
deal with. The miners at this place
will please exercise patience and we will
expedite matters as much as possible.
Oar policy is to do all that is to be done,
! well, regardless of the tine it takes to
accomplish this. When the fact is taken
into consideration that one. party con-
stituting the board, is interested in
getting as much work done as posi-
BILE for little pay and the other
party is interested in great pay for little
work it will be easily seen that it is no
easy matter, to get those matters satisfac,
torily adjusted. The board will have t.
deal with the nine-hour system before it
gets through and there will have to be
an understanding arrived at upon the
equitable distribution of the profits OF
trade. We do not consider we are get
ting our dues when only allotted II! cents
ton advance, and market price being
advanced so cents per ton Whether we
are entitled to more is matter that will
have TO be discussed and finally solved
as soon as we adjust other matters.
Upon all matters that cannot be de-
cided by the board, mutually, the deci-
sion of an umpire will be obtained
Judge Moses Hallett has been unanl-
mously elected 10 the position. A com
mittee of two has been appointed to
wait upon the judge and notify him of
the wishes of the board.
As l draw nv report to close, intelli-
genre comes from the south that the Col
orado Coal and Iron company has signed
articles Disagreement to submit the dis
pute to arbitration. We are not in re-
ceipt of details appertanIng to the ar
rangements. By next week we hope to
be able to report a sweeping victory.
In the meantime l would say it will be
well to push forward with the work OF
perfecting our organization, and have
matters conducted with uniformity. II
will! never do to accept the division
policy. The north, south, east and west
must become one solid body. There are
no other means of salvation for the min
ing class To our brethren at Blossburg,
Ell Moro. Trinidad, Starkville, Engleville
and Coal Creek, l would respectfully say
depart not from the policy of the execu-
ttivsipower for the whole state and ada
cent territories. Individual and factional
settlements will prove destructive, and il
our movement is to become in every
sense success, we will have to keep
this fact in view. Consistency will have
to be regarded, and every action must be
thorough. JOHN l.. LEWIS,
Executive Secretary.
DENVER. Nov. Is.
A Donation.
A committee composed of NJ. Barnes