The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-07-29
UNIFORMITY
MEETING |
Conference Of the Coal Operators in
PittSburg Ended.
A DRAFT OF THE AGREEMENT
Cash Payment Of Wages, Abolition Of Com
pany stores 1000 Pounds 70 the
Ton, Monthly Paydays and
Check Weighmen.

Plttsburg. July 29.-The true uni
formity" conference of coal operators
OF the Pittsburg district concluded its
work last night, after a two days ses-
sion Of close and persistent work. The
21 sections of the uniformity agree
ment We're 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 II
80, or even 20, per cent. of the operators
were sincere in their sanction Of II.
The conference appointed a committee
of five, W. 2. DeArmitt, u b. Zerbe.
j. 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 its work today. It 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, z. 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 15a inches. 1t also provides that in
case of the violation of the provisions
and terms of the agreement a penalty
of ten cents per ton on the total out
put Of coal mined by the violator will
be charged, which penalty is to be paid
to a 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
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 ef-
fective unless it has been signed by
% per cent of the operators on or be-
fore Jan. l, 1898. After 80 per cent have
signed the agreement if any 10 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 few exceptions
want it distinctly understood that the
passage of an agreement whereby al
operators are to adopt a similar sys-
tenn and to pay the same relative pric,
for mining has nothing to do with tn,
great strike. They wish the miners tC
disabuse their minds of any sucl
theories.
The operators have also shut out the
miners leaders from taking any part
through questions arising between the
operators and miners by inserting a
clause in the agreement stating the
commission shall be composed of work.
men employed by the subscribers.
Heretofore the miners officials have
represented the miners, but now the
miners are to grapple with the ques-
tlons in dispute alone.
It 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 a fixed
price 1t is understood that these shall
have the right to supply the product to
FIJI 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 We're raised TO the agree
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
| ential I'm the thick and thin vein re-
| gions. Mr. Hoosac almost broke uu
! the assemblage when he moved to
make the agreement become operative
when 75 operators sign it. a vote was
/ taken, and resulted IN six to make Il
/ rs per cent. and fourteen TO make it 8,
| per cent
Less Encouraging for Minors.