The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-16
MINERS SCALE FIXED
RATES FOR THREE STATES NAMED
By THE NATIONAL CONVENTION.
Price Of Pick Mining i'm Indiana Put
at 60 Cents-Scheme for De-
fense Fund Adopted.

COLUMBUS, o., Jan. 15.-The national
convention of the United Mine Workers
this afternoon decided to hold a joint con-
ference with the operators of Ohio and
western Pennsylvania in this city next
Monday. 1t developed in this connection
that the Hooking valley operators have
withdrawal from the Ohio Coal Association,
and while they would not join in the call
for the conference, would attend as in
dividual operators.
On recommendation of the scale COM
mittee the convention decided that the
price per ton for pick mining shall be 60
cents in Pennsylvania, 60 cents in the
Hooking valley, 60 cents in Indiana, So cents
in the Grape Creek Qllinois) district and
the mining rate of 1894 in the rest of Illi-
nois; that the price per ton for loading and
drilling after machines in Pennsylvania,
Ohio and Illinois be three-fifths Of the price
for pick mining, and that the price per ton
for entering. drilling and loading machine
coal in Indiana shall be four-fifths OF the
pick mining rate in that State, and prices
for all other machine work shall advance in
proportion. The committee on defense fund
submitted the following report. which was
adopted:
Whereas, the eighth annual convention
of the United States Mime Workers of
cluded that a defense fund would be adj
vantageous 10 the mining craft, said de-
fense fund to De governed by such safe
guards and restrictions shall secure TO
the members OF our organization the best
results from il and shall act so TO pro-
tect all those in good standing in our
ganization against wrong-doing on the part
of their employers; among these safeguards
being one which shall provide that its ac-
cumulating fund shall not be drawn on
until it has been one year in existence. or
until it has reached the sum OF $50, 600.
Said fund shall be banked in the name of
the national officers and the presidents of
the respective districts.
When demands are made on the funds
the case shall be investigated by the ma
tional executive board, VINO shall submit
the result of their investigation to the
members of the organization; and the vote
of the members shall determine whether
said demand shall be granted or not But
where the investigation of the executive
board is not favorable to the local sub
district district making the claim the
representatives of said local subdstrict or
district shall have the right to have their
side presented TO the members at the same
executive board. and said representatives
shall submit their case to the national sec
statements to the members at the same
time. If the vote of the members be ia
vorable TO the parties making the claim,
they shall be paid such sum as shall be
agreed upon at the next annual convention.
The payment to this defense fund shall
not be in less than p cents per month. No
members affected shall have complied with
| the constitution in every particular with
respect to the suspension of work or or
coming out on strike.
1.-The executive board shall draft n crcu-
| lar embodying these points and shall send
| Ii to the locals of the organization. who
| shall vote on the same, and shall instruct
| their delegates to the next annual conven-
| ton.
ut must be distinctly understood that no
money shall be drawn from this fund with
out majority vote of the members OF the
| organization. and when so voted on the
money may be drawn by the signature pre-
| sented to the bank of such member of the
| trustees of the fund as shall be agreed upon
| by the next convention"
The convention allowed John Fahey S721
| for expense incurred in 1895 in labor union
| work in the anthracite region of Pennsyl-
vania.
proposition to reduce the dues from 10
10 cents per member was defeated. Locals
delinquent may be reinstated by paying two
months dues TO all branches of the organi-
zation. but cannot vote until they have been
paying six months dues Immediately pre-
cedng a convention.
| Delegates at large are not to be electHd
| to miners conventions in the future. Here
after all persons with cards from organized
| labor and known to be favorable TO the
United Mine Workers of America can be
admitted TO membership. This covers men
| from foreign countries.