Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-01-25
THE WAGES OF COAL MINERS
In the Four Competitive States, Have
Been Agreed Upon,

fN
AND THEIR WILL BE NO STRIKE.
ALL DIFFERENCES. WHICH
SEEMED INSURMoUNTABLE
WHEN THE CONFERENCE
OPENED. WE'RE AMICABLY ADJ
JUSTED-THE JOINT CONvEN-
TIoN ADJOURNED AFTER SING
ING AMERICA
Plttsburg, Pa, January 24.-Carnegie
Hall. in Allegheny. rang with the hymn
Of America tonight in ratification OF
the settlement of the wage differences
which was effected between the coal
operators and miners of the States of
Ohio, Indiana. Illinois and Pennsylva-
mia. The settlement means peace for
more than 100,0 900 men and their en-
ployers as far a the general issues ara
concerned.
The settlement was reached after
one of the most notable gatherings in
the history of the industry. The lead
ers of both sides made a bitter fight and
at times it looked as if there would be
a split and chaos would prevail in the
great industry. Tonight every oper-
ator and miner was in the best of
humor and all left for their homes feel
ing glad. The only soreness is with
the block coal interests of Indiana. To-
day VIM. Fisher, a block coal opera
tor, announced hat he desired to
change his vote, which had been in
favor of adopting the scale! He was a
member of the scale committee. His
announcement caused no surprise and
the remainder of the delegates decided
that the settlement should stand in
spite of the protest.
The s~ub-scale committee met this
morning to consider the recommended
ton of the joint committee as to the
differences in Illinois.
The operators of that State made
the work of the committee compare
lively easy by receding from their de-
mandS for a double standard and
agreeing to the arbitration OF the ma
chine differential price. The report
was then adopted by the joint commit
tee.
The adoption of this report will pre-
vent a national strike, and any trouble
that may occur during the year will be
in Hooking Valley, o., and at mines
where the operators have refused to be
a party of the contract.
Under the new agreement the rates
in Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania will
be the same as at present. For run of
mine coal the rate will be AZ 66-100
cents a ton; inch and a quarter screen
coal, 66 cents a ton; drivers and out
side labor will receive the same wages
as at present, and eight hours will con-
stitute a days work.
In Illinois the run of mine system
will prevail. The machine dl%fferential
is to be arbitrated. The operators
want a fiat differential OF 10 cents a
ton between pick and machine mining,
and the miners want it reduced to Z
cents. The operators makes a differ
entail rs per cent. on the pick mine
rate in favor OF machine mined coal.
Upon r~eassembling at s o'clock to-
night the convention at once began the
discussion of the scale committees re-
port The report al outlined above
was finally agreed TO without amend
ment. 1t was decided to appoint a
committee of four operators and four
miners, one from each State to act as
a board of Cancellation. The change
in the date Of the expiration of the
agreement is the only change from last
year. Instead Of expiring April /, 1t
ONE to an end a month earlier, thus
~affording the operators a better oppor-
tunity to take care of lake trade con-
tracts.
After the singing Of America" the
convention adjourned to meet in In
dianaDolis, Ind. on the fourth Tues
day of January, 1900.