Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-10
THE MINOR MATTERS.

Among minor matters are the following:
Double working. heading prices; double or
treble shift headings, 10 cents extra per 100
bushels; slate or bone coal two inch thick, 8
cents per 100 bushels loaded over scale
prices; each extra inch an additional
cents.
The above list applies to places where
open lights are used. For safety all men
using them to get per cent extra with all ap-
pliances furnished. Weigh scales are to be
placed upon all coal tipples, and under bins
containing coke oven coal, and miners and
coke drawers to be paid on basis of 76
pounds to the bushel. Those managing
horses or mules are relieved of care of the
animals.
Among the many restrictions defining
duties of men under the agreement are the
following: For safety to life no miner shall
be required to draw posts unless a competent
company employe assists. All time work
over eight hours and all Sunday work to be
paid time and half. Not over per cent
month on actual value of property to con-
.stitute rental when miners occupy company
houses. Free coal to be delivered. No
extra employees to be employed. When any
are needed, K. of L. men to be preferred.
Slack times necessitating restriction to be
met by an equal division of said restriction
in all plants OF respective companies. Semi
monthly pay is a condition. No miner shall
be obliged to sign lease, the lease system
being declared abolished. The scale is of
sliding nature, as the closing paragraph
shows
When the average selling price Of coke ao-
vances beyond 81 so per ton, (. o. b. at ovens.
the wages and prices of the workmen shall be
raised in exactly the same ratio, and shall be
computed by the rule Of proportion, viz: As
this agreement is to 81 50, so is the wages and
prices to the average selling price of coke when
it advances above 81 so per ton.
The scale was acknowledged to be the
most complete ever presented. It was re-
ceived by Thomas Lynch, of the Frick Coke
Company; Morris Ramsey, of the Southwest
Coke Company, and John P. Bremen, of
the Mcclure Coke Company, in Byrne's
Hall.
THEY WILL MEET AGAIN.
No Nocomment was made and the conference
adjourned until Thursday, January 16,
when the operators will reply. A scale
of the operators, differing radically, will
doubtless be presented. It is claimed that
the existing scale does not expire until
March 9. NJ. w. Kerfoot claims that Feb
ruary will be the date, by virtue Of a 30
day notice mailed to the operators on JAN
uary 8. He claims that the men will quit
work February unless the new agreement
is signed. The miners scale will probably
be opposed and friction may ensue. Divis-
ion 4, K. of L., meets in Scottdale to-day, and
will take action on the new SCALE Secretary
Watchhorn, of National Trades Assembly
No. 135, is to be at the meeting. Those who
are best posted claim that the men will
strike if their claims are not conceded. The
main stumbling block is thought to be the
sliding scale arrangement. Under it,
should coke go up to 81, the miner would
get 35 cents and the operator 10 cents. Thus
the miner would receive 80 per cent increase,
while the operator gathered in 10 per cent.