Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-07
FIRM ON THE HOURS.
Miners Prepare a Scale to Be Pre-
scented at TO-Day's Conference.
ALL ADVANCES WILL BE OPPOSED.
The Membership of the Builders Ex-
change Still Rolling Up.
MISCELLANEOUS INDUSTRIAL ITEMS

The delegates to the interstate conference
of coal operators and miners, which meets
to-day in the Court House, are about all
here. About 40 more men arrived yester-
day from various sections and the afternoon
was spent in holding informal meetings and
exchanging suggestions on what is to be
brought before the convention to-day.
! The operators delegates held two confer
ences, one in the morning, at which all the
districts were represented. The meeting
in the afternoon was confined to Eocking
Valley operators, and while Secretary
Brooks said last night that there was no
danger of the Ohio operators pulling away
from the Pennsylvania people, the tone of
| those who spoke was of character that in
| dicated where the operators stand in case the
miners insist on the demands they propose
| to make.
| BY Far the Most Important Question.
The differential was considered to be the
most important of the wages question to come
| up at this conference and considerable time
was spent discussing 1t. Two years ago the
| dfterent1al between the Hooking Valley out
| put and that of the Indiana block coal
district was 10 cents. 1t is now but cents
.
| operators for reduction. When the run of
| the mine coal proposition came up there was
| no opinion but that this could not be conceded.
Mr.. Brooks was seen at the Hotel And erSon
last night, but he said there could be nothing
made public until after the operators and
miners come together. 1t has been the policy
OF both Sides to keep quiet. He said the ques-
ton OF increasing the pay of the leaders after
machines was not discussed at tie meeting.
The shorter hour question was discussed, and
unanimous sentiment cropped out against
any change in the existing schedule.
Ihe Pittsburg operators met In the Coal Ex-
change and talked matters over.
The delegates representing the miners from
the two States met in the Court House yester-
day to formulate their demands Each dele
gate was given five minutes TO state the griev-
ances of the men in his locality and what they
wanted. After all had reported committee
was appointed to draft their ultimatum.
Ultimatum of the Miners.
1t was decided to press for eight hours at all
hazards, and on this rock they made up their
minds not to split. They will not give an inch,
and the indications are that the operators will
be equally as determined not to grant it.
In Il general way they want an advance Of 10
cents, which would make the basis of mining
so cents instead of 10 cents per ton for the dig
gers. The leaders of machine mined coal de-
mand three-ffths of this rate for their work,
which would be 48 cents on an S0-cent basis.
They are now paid 50 cents. They will also
ask that the coal be weighed before screened.
The men are not unit on the question of
wages and it was agreed if two or more dele
gates objected that the request for an advance
would not be pushed too far. With the oper-
ators clamoring for q reduction it would not
be improbable If the present rates were re-
affirmed.
This result is made more probable by the
threat recently made by the river operators to
close down their mines. 1t is not generally
known that when the demand for an advance
of u cent bushel granted few weeks
ago 1t was only temporary. The operators
were forced into making the concession by large
and pressing Southern orders that had to be
filled. They granted the advance. but said that
as soon as they got their orders all filled and
stock ahead. they would lock their men out
again. This lockout is anticipated about the
1st of August. and this fact may have some
weight with the miners who are now consider
ing the matter of demands.