The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-10-19
May be Necessary to Settle the Dis
puted Point.
NOT A STRAIGHT ADVANCE,
The Operators Insist on Considering
the Reduction OF Price Of Powder
III Est matin. Wages OF Con-
tract Miners, Which District
President Nichols Thinks
VIII ProIong Fight.
fnv Associated Press. J

SCRANTON, pa, OctoDer 1S.-Repre-
een;ativcs Of nearly all the big coal COM
panies CT the region conferred here to-day
and made an agreement 10 amend the
notices already posted by attaching the
following:
IN further explanation Of the above
notice. this company desires to say that
il is its intention to pay the advance in
wages above noted until April i, 1901, and
thereafter until further notice
The following statement was issued 70
the press:
The representatives. OF the larger Goa!
companies after Their meeting TINS alter
noon stated, in reply 10 inquiries, that
they had offered their men ten per cent.
advance as indica ted by the notice they
had posted that this notice specifically
stated that the reduction Of powder from
SEQ to $50 would be considered in ar
rving at the wages of the contract min
ers. It was expected when the notices
were posted that the offer was to- stand
until April 1st, and Indefinitely thereafter,
but inasmuch as there seems to be some
misunderstanding in this matter, they have
agreed TO add 10 their notice a clause to
the effect that it is their intention TO pay
the advance in wages until April l. 1891,
and thereafter until further notice.
POWDER QUESTION
National President Mitchell District
President T. p. Nichols, District Secretary
Joan T. Dempsey and National Organizer
D;lcher, Of the United Mine Workers,
have all been quoted as, saying that ttae
resolutions OF the Scranton convention
contemplated a straight advance OF ten
per cent. for all parts OF the region, aad
that the matter OF having this increase
made up in part of a decrease i'll the
cost Of powder in these upper regions
where powder is sold for SD 4 keS was
ret to i,e agreed 10. The powder question:,
they one and ali said. was left out OF III
present negotiations with the understands
ing that it form cne OF tile grievances
to be adjusted III the conferences which
the offer says the operators agree TO have
with their mon to take up amy grievances
they may have"
President Mitchell. When informed by
telephone of the action OF the opera tors,
stated that he would have to decline TO
discuss its probable effect in regard to a
settlement until he had given the matter
careful consideration. He would not say
whether Or not it would be possible to deal
with the difficulty without calling another
convention.
PhoLONG.ATIoN OF FIGHT.
President Nichols whose whole district
is affected by The powder question, said
this evening th35 i, looked TO him as if
another convention was necessary.
Il not know that the delegates viii
consent TO waving their demand fer i
straight increase and allowing the substi-
tuition OF this clause about powder, which
the operators are so insistent about, but
without their consent do not see how
the matter can be adjusted. To me it
looks like prolonsation Of the fight
The Gibbons Coal Companys drift, which
supplies fuel for the city schools, started
up this morning fun handed, with the
approval Of the United Mine Workers.
1t is understood that the company shall
mine only sufficient coal to fill its con-
tract with the school district. The men
are to receive the straight ten per cent.
advance. Fifty hands are employed.