The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-11-29
TROUBLES OF MINERS
SECRETARY MBRYDE ADDRESSES A
LETTER TO OHIO OPERATORS.
The DiHerential Rate and the COM
p9ny store System-COnference to
Bc Held at Columbus To-day.

COLUMBUS, o., Nov. 2s.-Secretary Pat
rick McBryde has addressed an open letter
to the coal operators OF Ohio, which will be
of interest all over the country. 1t having
reference TO the meeting of the operators
to be held here Tomorrow, when the de-
mands of the miners for cash payments
instead OF orders on company stores will be
considered. He begins by stating that
the result OF the deliberations Of the COM
mittee depends the peace and tranquility
not only for Ohio but perhaps Of the entire
country. The price for mining is based on
a contract which provides that the price TO
be paid In the Hooking valley in Ohio shall
be 81 cents. based on 60-cent rate in the
Pittsburg thin vein. and that any change
i'm the latter must be met with corre-
spending change in tie Ohio rate. This
differential is claimed to be the important
part of the agreement entered into this
summer. and under it the miners base
their claim for cash rate. The latter re-
views the different disputes between the
contending interests over period of eight
years. and points out that during that time
the differsntial has always been adhered
to. The circumstances OF the long strike OF
1895 and the fipai surrender by the miners
are also reviewed. and the fact that the
differential was sustained Is persistently
pointed out. II appears that the demorai-
ization in the Pittsburg district OF last year
continued after the general suspension was
over. and when. i'm February. the miners
found that fact out, a strike of twelve
weeks followed, but which ended in the de-
feat of the miners. 1T Is we'll known the
letter says that during this strike the
Pittsburg operators demanded that the diff
ferential be wiped out. The cause OF tho
establishment OF the dinerentiai was the
interstate-commerce act, which made IL pos
sible for one district 10 successfully COM
pete with another situated nearer the mar
ket owing to the difference In cost of pro-
duction. In self-preservation the miners ins
sisted on this plan. and subsequent results
have proven the correctness of their rea>
soning Since 1887, up TO last October, tho
operators of the Pittsburg district. with
three exceptions had stores or deducted
from the miners earning for stores. Ths
Generalization that has existed In the Pitts
burg district for the last few years has had
an Injurious effect on the miners or ONO,
the Pittsburg trade ought to be encouraged.
The evil Is found TO be In the stores. this
being admitted by ali concerned, ann there
can be no stability until the store evil is re.
moved. The Pittsburg miners agreed to
allow cents per ton between mines having
stores and those not having. and In doing
this the basis between the two States was
rot changed, "a the establishment of "a cash
basis more than equaled the cents. Ohio,
under its present condition. Is now paying
n 0O-cent rate and Pittsburg Ga cents. there
fore the differential Is still maintained
The decision of Judge Little as arbitrator
Is reviewed. They disagree with the find
point. however, that Ohio operators who
have stores do not come within the finding
of Judge Little. which sustained the exist
ing rates and they ask that the differential
of , cents be allowed between Ohio mines
having stores and those having none. II
IL generally believed that there Is more
resting on the decision than appears OH the
surface. but an expression could not be OBJ
tanned from the mine officials.