The Hawaiian gazette., 1900-09-28

n was estimated at noon today that
the numbsr Of additional men In this
district who Joined the strikers this
morning was about 600 ON tha north
side all but three or four coillcrics are
operating with reduced forces. SILK
ers say the workings are not mining
any coal, but are running the maehil-
cry 10 give outsiders the impression
that the strike has not affected them
with one exccption-that Of the Eek
ley collieri ss-reports show that fewer
men are working at all the mines on
the north side OF HaZelton today than
on yesterday.
GRIEVANCES DISCUSSED.
NEW YORK. Sept. 1s-John b. Garrett,
vice president OF the Lehigh Coal Com
paLy. In an interview made the following
ststoment In review OF the various grlev-
ancos alleged by the United Mine Workers
to exist in the anthracite coal fields:
This company conducts no stores, nor
dces 1t exert any influence upon employees
to rrefer ono merchant above another. 1t
en- ploys no doctors and makes no charges
against its employees for medical service
H. them or their families. Inquiry has
satisfied me that the above is also the
case with the companies generally. Semi
rC nthly pay is observed by us In few
eases, being In all in which the men have
where, were the demand made. as called
for by law.
"1h he use OF the word ton as applied
to 1850 pounds is a misnomer; ii Is simply
n init of measure, which might be called
u car or cartload or by any other name,
ard Is the quantity of actual coal, Plus
hone, slate and other foreign material, for
the removal of which certain payment
is mode Under the agreed scale of wages.
''The price charged for powder is an
apparent but not n real grievance. In
s'irnG regions $2.15 per keg is charged. in
others s1.5O per keg. This of itself should
be sufficient evidence that the compensa-
tiCn of the miner is set independently of
the price OF powder, net return for
a days labor must be essentially the same
In neighborng fields, whether one or the
other price is charged for the powder.
"Another evidence that the price of
powder does not create an injury to the
miner is shown by the fact that when
the subject was agitated some time ago
ono of the larger companies offered to
reduce the charge for powder to its then
current value, provided the men would
consent to such revision of their wages
al would continue the same compensation
fer their labor us they had previously re-
ceivcd under the agreement which was
then operative.
This was promptly rejected, showing
that their purpose was to effect in
crease OF wages. and that II this could be
obtained they preferred to maintain the
apparent grievance, which could bo and
had from that time to this used as
ground of complaint of unfair treatment
eliminating the foregoing alleged
grievances from the list formulated by
the United Mine Workers, nothing what
ever remains but general demand for
Increased pay and recognition of the or
der as the agency through which differ
eroes should be adjusted
a
.ynnia Coal Company, made this statement
after talk with the company's mine SUI
perintendent over the long distance wire:
I'VE operate thirteen collieries and all
but two are closed. The strike appears to
b.. general throughout the mining dis
trlcts. Many men have reported in our
miEes. but hardly enough to Justify work.
Ing the two collieries, so that it is prob
able that they will be closed.
1.-The tie-up will doubtless last a week
and then the men will begin to get dis
satisfied and will want to return to work.
T'hr miners, as far as we can learn, have
not sufficient resources to carry on Il
pro ionged strike. Should the strike con-
tinue for Il long time railroad earnings
will. of course, be affected.
1.-The operators can hold out for at
least six months. 1t Is our custom to
Gerry on our books orders for six months
ir advance. We have fair supply on
hand. Retailers. especially in the coun-
try hold good-sized stocks think the
situation justifies an advance In prices.
I'VE anticipate no trouble at our mines
Extra watchmen have been hired. but
this Is the only precaution which we have
taken. l do not think that any pauper
lafor will be imported unless the strike
should be prolonged