The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-19
MINERS AND OPERATORS
JOINT CONVENTION or COAL DIGGERS
AND THEIR EMPLOYERS.
Representatives on the Scale Commit
tee APpOinted-Rates That Will
Be Asked by the Men.

PITTsBURG, Jan. 1S.-The joint inter-
state meeting of the coal operators and
miners was called to order at 2:45 p. m. in
Carnegie Hall, Allegheny, by Alexander
Dempster.
The greater part of the afternoon was
taken up with the report and discussion of
the committee on credentials. w. S. Boyle
moved that the representatives from out
side States be given voice but no vote in
the deliberations of the convention. M. =.
Ratchford insisted that the miners in the
newly organized States should have
all the privileges of the convention. A
vote on the motion resulted in tie, the
miners voting in the negative. Chailman
Dempster decided the motion carried.
The committee on rules and regulations
made report which was adopted, although
the miners voted against it.
Rule 4 allows the same number of votes
on the floor to each State-four in behalf Of
the operators and four in behalf of the
miners. Rule says: In no event shall the
rule requiring unanimous vote upon a
main or principal question be suspended >"
President Mitchell, of the miners, entered a
protest against the adoption of the rules.
Representatives on the scale committee
Illinois,. M. Simpson, r. Smith, J. II.
Garaghty A. L. Sweet; alternates Charles
p. Hull, F. s. Peabody }. d. Crabb and
Seifert, G. b. Niblock and William Risher
alternates. r. s. Tenant A. M. Ogle, {. A.
Eastman and j. 5. Talley. Ohio-J. d. Zerbe,
Woodford; alternates, j. f. Peacock, George
II. Smith, M. Andrews and Z. w. Troll.
Pennsylvania-F. L. Robbins, J. H. Jones,
II. G. Bughman and +. NJ Osborne; alter
mates, George w. Schuederberg j. G. Dy-
sart. M. II. Taylor and d. B. Blackburn.
The miners on the committee are: Indiana
w. ID. Vanhorn, 7. l. Roberts, b. Navin
and F. d. Roberts; alternates, James Can't
we'll, Samuel Boskill, II. T.. Newcomb and
S: Discon. Illinois,. M. Hunter. William
Hefty. Joseph Manuels James Boston; al
ternates, Samuel Pascoe, c. r. Schurrah
Ed Cahill and David Higgins. Ohio-T. L.
Lewis, w. n. Crawford w. II. Haskins.
Michael Collins II. A. tanning and f. S.
Mccullough. Pennsylvania-Patri DOlan.
William Warner Edward Soppett and
Thomas Cavenough; <ernates Henry
Walker, William Dodds, D. Hay, Joseph
McGill and G.. c. Hickman
An objection was raised to M. d. Ratch-
ford serving on the committee, and j. J.
Mossott was substituted. The convention
then adjourned.
The miners went into secret executive
session Immediately upon assembling to-day
to consider the report of the scale commit
tee. According to one of the delegates the
committee reported in favor of a general
run-of-mine system and fixed the rate at
fifty cents a ton, an increase of a fraction
over seven cents q ton. The present rate
ton. 1t was also decided to fix the rate for
coal passing over an inch and a quarter
screen at seventy-six cents, or ten cents a
ton more than the present rate.
material change was reported in the
differential as to the machine and pick min
ing. The committee favored basing the
price for machine-mined coal on the
rate in Illinois and fixing seven cents a ton
as the differential between pick and ma
chine mining. The rates in other States to
correspond to the present existing differ
entails, which were arranged on account of
the various conditions in the different coal
fields. This would make the differential in
the Pittsburg district about fifteen cents in
stead of seventeen cents. The eight-hour
clause was also reported favorably by the
committee.