The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-01-22

Illinois operators refused TO vote nnu
Pcnnsylvania and Ohio operators voted
no. resulting "a ayes. 8 nays.
"on the proposition for q uniform day
In tho competitive field, Illinois opera
tors again refused TO vote. and Penn-
sylvnnla operAtors-2S ayes, rnys.
1T was then moved and carried that
tho committee repo-t to the conven-
,tion.', x va '5 ll b
The convention uccepted tho report
and voted unanimously to consider
ser!Gtum. 80, ~ I
A motion TO adopt the proposition. for
q scale based upon the mine run was de-
clarcd lost, under; tho rule. the vote re-
sulting % ayes. IL inays-1ndlnna, Ohio
and Pennsylvania operators voting In
the negative. iJ Y
1t became plain that nothing could
bo accomplished under the rules OF Tho
convention. which required q unani-
nous vote. ID
Patrick Dolan, OF Pennsylvania, asked
q reconsideration OF the rules. Chair
man Zerbe. OF the rules committee. en-
deavored 10 explain the rules c.,
S.Phil Penna. OF Indiana. offered n sub
resolve Itself Into committee OF. the
whole, SO as to allow the members of
the scale committee an opportunity to
explain their actions. The Penna sub
| atitute failed to receive an Unanimous
vote and was declared lost, but the
| chair after some t'cbntc ruled that 1t
had carried, and !hc convention sat M
n committee Of the whole. This pro-
cedure brought about order and res
cued the convention from what had
seemed permanent deadlock. Z :, :.
Then began q prolonged debate over
the mine run system. Mnder the five
minute rule. The operators Of Penn
sylvnnia. Ohio and Indiana were a unit
against tho adoption OF the system, with
the exception OF Col. Rend. who de-
tenn put into effect at his Indiana mines.
The argument put forward by oil the
objectors to the new system was that
the miners would use mitch more pow
der and reduce the coal to mere slack.
But the Illinois operators recommended
the system fully as strong as did their
employees President Ratchford finally
took up the discussion. He said the
mine run system puts n premium upon
practical workmen. He recommended
that the operators employ none other.
IT suggested" he continued, "ln the
committee double stamford of screen
cd and unscreened with uniform
screen; that II carry with It eight hours
and uniform day wage; and rather
than see the convention. adjourn shall
advocate 1t. came here for business
to subordinate local TO general condi-
tions. In my Judgment It is wrong for
the miners md operators of any dis
trict to Insist upon any certain con-
ditions." &
(, He then stated that the miners would
certainly ask for q ten cent advance.
The fve-minute rule was adopted and
the debate proceeded, the operators of
Ohio and Pennsylvania opposing and
the operators OF Illinois, nrd miners gen.
orally favoring 1t. President. Farms, of
the Ohio mine workers, closed the de-
bate. pleading for an adjustment Of the
differences, and favorinS the double
standard suggested by President Ratch-
ford. a iFsalS
The motion to adopt the mine run sys-5
TEN was thon Voted upon and declared
lost under the rules, "a ayes. II nays.
although the convention was still Sit
ting In the committee of the whole.
After q brief recess the conference
reassembled at s o'clock this evening.
remaining In the committee OF the
whole. Operator Robbins, OF Pennsyl-
vania. presented the. following resolu-
t1on and moved itS adoption:
That all coal mined in the competi-
tive districts represented In this con-
ference shall be paid for either as run
OF mine or screened coal as may be: de-
te-mined by the operators from time to
time. t,:3
THAT screened coal shall be such, as
passes over a screen OF seventy-two
feet superficial area. Of uniform hat
bars. with one and one-fourth inches
space, between the bars; and the price
agreed upon for such screened coal shall
be taken as the basis for run OF mine
price. The .dlfferential between screen
ed coal and run OF mine 20 be decided
by the operators of each district"
Another lengthy argument was pro-
duced By. the Illinois interests. It,was
claimed that the mine run basis had al
ready been esta ablished In Illinois over
seven-eighths inch screen. Finally an
amendment was offered, inserting the
words Excepting Illinois" The point
was also made by an Illinois operator
that the Robbins plan made no nrov!s-
Ion for paying the mine run scale, but
only for arriving at the proper price.
T. Lewis, OF the Ohio miners, covering
a!l the points. IN discussing the sub
stitute operator Dempster, OF Pennsyl-
vanla, and NJ. Lewis were continually
called to order. The substitute and the
amendments TO Mr.. Robbins motion
was declared lost under the rules. The
convention adjourned while still sitting
as a committee Of the whole, until TO-
morrow morning. with Mr.. Robbins
motion pending.
Patrick Dolan, leader OF the Pennsyl-
vania miners. refused to vote on nny OF
the questions at the evening session.
He wanted the rules suspended SO that
| majority importance could ever be
put through the convention under the
present Interpretation of the rules. ,
At the close OF the session Dolan ask
cd that the miners remain In the hall
and consult on the situation. President
Ratchford was on his feet instanter and
declared himself opposed to any meet
ing of the miners. as proposed. He then
left the hall with his executive officers
and most OF the miner delegates.
"stome,rall" 'JnuItson's birthday.
Special Dispatch to tho 1ntcllIgcncer. .E
MARTINsBURG, w. Va. Jan. a.
stonewall Jackson's birthday was cel6-
brated here tonight. The exercises
were under the auspices of the Daugh-
| ters Of the Confederacy. and consisted
principally of rccitations and songs.