The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-16
NORTHEASTERN
PENNSYLVANIA
AANANN II ~ n AAASAAA

representation Is allowed the miner in
the matter.
2. A system of increasing the weight
of coal to be sent out in each car has
also been adopted, the miner being
compelled to place on the top of the
car more coal than formerly without
increased compensation.
3. Where certain prices were CORNER
ly paid for certain kinds of work, to-
day the miner is forced to accept the
price offered by the mine foreman, re-
gardless Of former prices. This results
in various prices being paid to different
men for the same kind of work in the
same coliery.
4. A general inequality of price OBJ
tains throughout the region, neighbor-
ing collieries paying prices per car of
same relative size which differ as much
as 20 per cent, while the veins, mode
of working and general conditions are
similar. This is unfair TO both en-
ployer and employe.
5. We are compelled to submit to
dockage while the breaker is idle for
short time, although compelled to re-
main at our post Of duty.
6. The incentive for miners to be in
dustrious and thrifty has been largely
discouraged and taken away by the
system of cutting of prices when the
miner proved his ability to earn a fair
remuneration at certain figures which
were agreed upon.
Z. Where coal is weighed the opera
tors take the liberty of fixing the num-
Der of pounds to constitute a ton. This
sometimes reaches as high as 1850
pounds per ton. When questioned as
to the justice of such proceedings 1t
has been marked that more pounds will
be taken If necessary, all of this oc-
curing in a state whose laws say that
2,2i0 pounds shall constitute a ton
The rate per legal ton, which is about
AZ cents when compared with the rate
paid for bituminous coal, which is 60
cents and upward, shows the injus-
tice of the price paid for anthracite,
which sells for much more per ton In
| the market.
g. Our operators with n few eXcep-
tiOns, have held in contempt the mai
| esty of the law of the stateMby refus-
ing to comply with its provisions and
Ipay their employees semi-monthly. Thus
even the law is unable to protect us
from the power of corporate greed.
9. Another grievance is the favorit-
\ ism shown to certain individuals who
| are allowed the best work in the mines
| and are given more than a fair share
| of the cars and work, thus enabling
them to make big wages, which are
often published abroad, while the ma
| jority of the men make scarcely
4 enough to live on.
| 10. one of the greatest injustices
which most of the anthracite miners
suffer under is the exorbitant price
| charged for powder, which is sold at
&I5 per keg. while the operators pay
about 20 cents for the same, reaping
DER two hundred per cent. on their
| investment.
| II. The company store, by exOrbi-
tant charges and prices, together with
compulsion to deal therein, takes from
us the bulk of our earnings which
have been left by the foregoing sys-
| TENS.
-. We believe 1t to be most unfair
to compel us to have only such doc
tors as the companies say we must
have and must pay for as they die
tate, and We believe that it Is only
right that we should at least have
the privilege of choosing our own doc
tor.
"All of these evils and others not
mentioned have sunk the anthracite
miners in the depths OF poverty and
distress. which are unbearable.
| 1--WE depreciate strikes. except as a
last resort, as n means of settling dis
putes. and desire that such differences
! be settled by a proper and effective
method of conciliation and arbitration
such as can be brought about and put
s..t@ -. d.. -FE
by the coal operators and coal work
ers meeting together in joint confer.
ence and there discussing such grev-
| ances, or other matters, as may be
of mutual concern to all.
| Therefore, we respectfully invite
the coal operators to meet with us ir
Joint conference for this purpose, and
in the same spirit of fairness and
equity that actuates us in sending
this invitation. We assure the opera.
tors and the public at large that We
will, when in such joint conference
gladly withdraw from any position we
may take on any proposition as soor
as it is demonstrated that our posi-.
tion is wrong"
ternoon, at which the following com.
mittee was appointed to correspond
with the operators and invite them
to the joint conference:
First district-Samuel Morgan
Scranton; Thomas Nichols, Nanti.
coke; J. p. Kearney, Archibald.
Second district-Thomas Duffy, Moo.
sic: John Waters, Yorktown; Peter
Gallagher, Freeland.
Third district-JOhn Fahey, Shenan,
doah; Alexander Krieger, Boydtown,
George Halin, Shamokin
The convention then adjourned. The
delegates afterward visited Lattimer
where the clash Of deputies and strlk,
ers occurred three years ago, in which
twenty-one miners were killed and
over fifty wounded