Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-07-29
UNIFORMITY MEETING.
Conference Of the Coal Operators
at Pittsburg Ended.
A DRAFT OF THE AGREEMENT.
Cash Payment Of Wages. Abolition OF
Company stores, 2. 900 Pounds to the
Ton, Monthly Paydays and Check
Weighmen.

Company Stores, 2 900 Pounds to the
Ton, Monthly Paydays and Check
Weighmen.
Pittsburg, July 29.-The '.true uni
formity" conference of coal operators
of the Pittsburg district concluded its
work last night, after two days ses-
sion Of close and persistent work. The
p sections of the uniformity agree
ment were thoroughly discussed and
adopted section by section. The best
of feeling prevailed throughout the
meetings, the only exception being the
boiling of Colonel Rend at yesterdays
session. Just previous to adjournment,
however, Judge Owens announced that
Colonel Rend had authorized him to
state that any agreement the confer
ence adopted would receive his hearty
cooperation, and he would sign it if
so, or even 20, per cent. of the operators
were sincere in their sanction of it.
The conference appointed committee
of five, w. P. DeArmitt, J. B. Zerbe.
]. J. Stoyler, ]. B. Dyort and N. F.
Sanford, with General John Little, to
secure the signatures of the operators
to the agreement This committee will
begin it's work today 1t will be aided
by the Ohio board of arbitration. When
the requisite number of signatures
have been secured another meeting will
be held to ratify the agreement.
The agreement as adopted provides
for cash payment of wages, 1000 pounds
to the ton, check weighmen on the tip
pies, miners to be credited with the
full quantity of coal contained in the
mine car, abolition of company stores,
semi-monthly pay days, uniform price
for pick mining in the thin and thick
vein districts, and screens not exceed
ing 11s inches. 1t also provides that in
case of the violation of the provisions
and terms of the agreement penalty
of ten cents Der ton on the total out
put of coal mined by the violator will
be charged, which penalty is to be paid
to commission subject to the right of
further arbitration or appeal. The pen
atty when collected is to be distributed
among the signers of the agreement
pro rata in proportion to the total
amount of tonnage or output made by
them during the year.
The commission is to be chosen an
nually and shall be known by the
name of the uniformity commission.
1t shall be composed of nine members,
the thick and thin vein operators hav
ing proper representation. The mem
bers shall be sworn to faithfully and
impartially perform the duties of their
office, and will be authorized and en-
powered to enforce the judgments and
awards. 1t shall also be empowered to
| subpoena witnesses with the same
| force and effect as a board of arbi-
| traitors duly appointed under the act
of assembly of the state of Pennsyl-
vania relating to compulsory arbitra
ton.
The agreement shall not become eff
| fective unless it has been signed by
| 95 per cent of the operators on or be-
| fore JAN 1, 1898. After 80 per cent have
signed the agreement if any Is oper-
ators shall be of the opinion that
enough have signed to render it effec-
tive a meeting shall be called in Pitts
burg to declare it in force.
The operators, with a few exceptions,
want it distinctly understood that the
passage of an agreement whereby all
| operators are to adopt a similar sys-
| tenn and to pay the same relative price
for mining has nothing to do with the
|
disabuse their minds of any such
| theories
The operators have also shut out the
miners leaders from taking any part
in the conferences that may take place
through questions arising between the
operators and miners by inserting a
| clause in the agreement stating the
commission shall be composed of work
.,s1,
Heretofore the miners officials have
represented the miners. but now the
miners are to grapple with the ques
tons in dispute alone.
1t was decided that present contracts
could not be made the basis for arbi-
| tration. Many firms have taken con-
tracts for a stipulated period at fixed
price. 1t is understood that these shall
have the right to supply the product to
| fill these contracts at the rate of min
| ing on which the contracts are based.
Here Is where the miners and operators
will separate.
The attendance at the session was
not as large as the day previous. The
operators worked smoothly, and few
objections wYre raised to the agrees
ment as written. There was a close
vote on the question where the COM
mission to be appointed should be
privileged to tamper with the differ
entail in the thick and thin vein re-
gions. Mr.. Hoosac almost broke up
the assemblage when ne moved to
make the agreement become operative
when rs operators sign it, A vote was
taken, and resulted in six to make it
75 per cent. and fourteen to make it 90
per cent.
Tass Eucouraoino for Miners