The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-07-29
UNIFORMITY MEETING.
Conference Of the Coal Operators
at Pittsburg Ended.
4 DRAFT OF THE AGREEMENT.

Cash Payment Of Wages, Abolition OF
Company stores, 1000 Pounds to tho
Ton, Monthly Paydays and Check
welghmen.
Pittsburg, July 2s.-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
21 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
bolting 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
60 or even 20, per cent. Of the operators
were sincere In their sanction OF 1t.
The conference appointed a committee
of five, w. P. DeArmitt, J. b. Zerbe.
J. ]. Stoyler, j. b. Dyort and N. +.
Sanford, with General John Little, to
secure the Signatures of the operators
to the agreement. This committee will
begin Its 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
pies, miners to be credited with the
full quantity of coal contained in the
mine car, abolition Of company stores,
semilnonthly pay days uniform price
for pick mining In the thin and thick
vein districts, and screens not exceed
ing ~ 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 q 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
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 cf-
fective unless It has been signed by
95 per cent Of the operators on or be-
fore Jan. /, 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 1t in force.
The operators, with few exceptions,
want 1t distinctly understood that the
passage of an agreement whereby all
operators are to adopt similar sys-
TEN and to pay the same relative price
for mining has nothing to do with the
great strike. They wish the miners to
disabuse their minds of any such
theories
I,t,o 1 t,1y 1rn cI,t,t n
miners leaders from taking any part
in the conferences that may take place
through questions arising between the
operators and miners by inserting
clause in the agreement stating the
commission shall be composed Of work.
men employed by the subscribers.
Heretofore tho miners officials have
represented tho miners, but now the
miners are to grapplc with the ques-
lions in dispute alone.
II was decided that present contracts
could not be made the basis for arbi-
trRtion. Many firms have taken con-
tracts for 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 Wllcn inc contracts are pascu'
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 were raised to the agree
ment as written. There was 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 he moved to
make the agreement become operative
when 75 operators sign it. A vote was
taken, and resulted In six to make it
Vs per cent. and fourteen to make it 90
per cent.