New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-06
UNITING WITH THE RAILROADS.
OPERATORS AT SCRANTON DECIDE TO
OFFER TEN PER CENT INCREASE

OPERATORS AT SCRANTON DECIDE TO
OFFER A TEN PER CENT INCREASE
Scranton. Penn Oct 3 CSpeciaD.-At a meet
ing of individual operators held in this city this
afternoon it was decided to unite with the rail-
road companies in the offer Of an advance of 10
per cent in miners wages. and notices to that
effect viii be posted tomorrow. The operators
present were ]. n. Rice, Riverside Coal Com
pany; William Conneil ConneH Coal Company;
w L. Council, Enterprise Coal Company; T E.
Jones. Forest Coal Company; William Robertson.
Dolph Coal Company; William Law. of Robert
son d Law; NJ B. Williams. Red Ash Coal Com
pany; ]. NJ Kemmerer. of whitney & KEN
nerer; 81 B. Fuller, Newton Coal Company; H.
w. Kingsbury. Stevens Coal Company: J. L.
Cakes. Clear Spring Coal Company; S. B. Ben
nett Butler Coal Company: R @. Brooks and T.
r. Brooks. Greenwood. Langclife and Latin
Coal companies; C. c. Bowman Horatio Bow
man and C. D. sanderson. Pancoast Coal Com
pany. and James 3. Mcclure. of Elliott. Mcclure
& Co.
This action is the result of conference held
IN New-York yesterday between the presidents
Of the railroads entering the coal fields and the
following men representing the independent OPP
orators: T. II. Watkins of the Temple Coal and
Iron Company; Rees @. Brooks. of the Latin
Coal Company, and E. L. Fuller. of the Fuller
Coal Company. They went to New-York TO con-
fer with the railroad presidents regarding a re-
ductien in the cost Of transporting coal TO tide
water. Unless the tolls were lowered the indie
pendent operators threatened not only not to
grant the 10 per cent increase. but also to food
and abandon their workings. When this an
nouncement Of the stand taken by the individual
operators was made the prospect of an early
settlement decreased. and the enthusiasm of the
strikers was visibly dampened. for they feared
that the threat would be put into execution and
that thousands would be compelled to seek other
employment Because of the railroads alleged
desire to force the independent operators out of
business IL was believed that the outlook was
far from cheerful; but now that the coal men
here have acted there is little doubt that the
others throughout the anthracite fields will fol-
low their example.
One Of the men who served on the committee
which went TO New-York explained that this
action was due TO the willingness Of the opera
tors 20 bring about q settlement, and they felt
that their position warranted cooperation with
the railroads When asked If the railroads had
agreed to lower the transportation tolls he
piled that they We're not in a position TO discuss
that question at present, but admitted that we
are working along those lines" 1t is announced
that the Delaware and Hudson and Pennsylva-
mia companies wifi also post notices granting a
10 per cent increase.
The mine workers were pleased with this an
nouncement, and say that the outlook has
frightened greatly. II the 10 per cent advance
offer is made general throughout the coal fields
is expected. conference Of the miners will
be held in this city to act it, While the
unless their demand ore26Gper cent increase is
conceded, IL is believed by many that they will
vote to resume work
Preparations are being made for a big parade
and demonstration in Scranton Wednesday.
All the miners, from Pittston to Forest City, are
expected TO take part.