The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-07-29
THEY ADOPT THE PLAN
Coal Operators Unite on q Uni
formity Agreement.
NOW FOR THE SIGNATURES
The Plan Provides for Cash Payments
Semi-Monthly, a Unif, rm Price for
Pick Mining and Abolition of Com
pany Stores-The Penalties.

formity conference of coal operators
OF the Pittsburg district concluded its
work tonight at 9:l5 o'clock, after a
two days session In close and persls-
tent work. The q sections OF the uni
formity agreement were thoroughly
discussed and adopted. section by sec
tion. The best of feeling prevailed
throughout the meeting. the only ex-
ception being the bolting OF Col Rend
at yesterdays session. Just previous
to adjournment. however, Judge nw-
ems announced that Rend had author
lied him to state that any agreement
OF the conference would receive his
hearty cooperation. and he would sign
II III 30, 80 or even 20 per cent OF the
operators were sincere in their sane
ton of II. The conference appointed
a committee of five. w. p. De Armitt,
j. Il. Searb. J. j. Stittle. ]. :. Disart
and n. +. Sanford. with Gen. John
Little. 10 secure the signatures of the
operators To the agreement. This COM
mittee will begin its work Tomorrow.
II will be aided by the Ohio board Of
arbitration. When the requisite num-
bti VI fuNt bttti Sftuifus
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
weight men I'm tipple: miners To be
credited with the full quantity OF coal
contained in the mine car. abolition of
company stores: semi i-monthly pay
days, uniform price of pick mining in
thin and thick vein districts and
screens not exceeding one and half
inches. Ii also provides that in case
of the violation Of the terms Of the
agreement penalty of 10 cents per
ton on the total output of coal mined
by the violator will be charged. which
penalty Is TO be paid To a commission
subject to the right of either arbitra-
tion or appeal. Said penalty when col
lected is to he distributed among the
signers of the agreement pro rata in
proportion of the total amount of ton
mage or output made by them during
the year.
The commission Is. to he chosen an
nually. and shall be known by the
name of the uniformity commission.
II shall he composed of nine members.
the thick and thin vein operators hav-
ing proper representation. The MEM
hers shall be sworn 10 faithfully and
impartially perform the duties OF their
Office and will be authorized and EN-
powered TO enforce the judgments and
awards.
IL shall also be empowered to sub
poena witnesses with the same force
and effect as a board Of arbitration
duly appointed and the act of the as
semby of the state of Pennsylvania
relating to compulsory arbitration. The
shall hA.nnp ampRtikp
unless II has been signed by s5 per cent
Of the operators on or before January
/, 1898.
After 30 per cent have signed the
agreement II any 10 operators shall be
Of the opinion that enough have signed
TO render il effective. a meeting shall
be called In Pittsburg TO declare II In
force.
The operators, with few exceptions.
want II distinctly understood that the
passage of an agreement whereby all
operators are to adopt similar sys-
tenn. and are to pay the same relative
prices for mining. has nothing To do
with the great strike. They wish the
miners to disabuse their minds of any
such theory.
The operators have also shut out the
miners leaders from taking any part
III the conferences tudt may idht Didtt
through questions arising between the
operators and miners by inserting a
clause stating that the commission
shall be composed OF workingmen en-
ployed by the subscribers. Heretofore
the miners officials have represented
the miners, but now the miners are to
grapple with the questions In dispute
alone. II was desided that the present
contracts should not be made the basis
for arbitration.
Many firms have taken contracts for
a stipulated period at fixed price. Ii
IL understood that these shall have the
right to supply the product to fill these
contracts at the rate OF mining 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. Oper-
ators from s5 rail mines and five river
mines agreed to take part In the con-
vention. which is larger percentage
than II was hoped to get together.
The operators worked smoothly and
few objections were raised to the agree
ment as written. There was a close
vote on the question whether the COM
mission to be appointed should be priv
ileged to ;amper with the differental
in the thick. and thin vein regions.
Frank Osborn made motion to let it
stand as usage and custom had made
IL. but DE Armitt argued that II the
differential was fair and just. none
should fear to have the subject arbi-
trated. The vote on the question re-
suited in II to settle by commission
and II to stand as at present. All ,.e
voting was light.
Hoosack almost broke up the assem-
blage when he moved to make the
agreement become operative when -
operators sign II. Objections were
raised to this motion and J. b. Zerbe,
who acted as chairman. hesitated TO
put the motion. He said the whole
agreement would be void. and the mo-
tion as an obstruction.
The vote was then taken and resulted
insix TO make 1t IS per cent and Il TO
make II s5 per cent.
Army of Agitators.
Wheeling. W. Va. July S.-Amonc TO-
cal leaders there Is general disappont-
ment that the conference held h.r. did
not take more radical measure, than to
merely offer sentimental sympathy With
no financial aid TO the strikers IL l.
believed this week there viii b. such an
army OF organizers and hgltstors in West
Virginia that the miners who h.y. thus