The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-10-02
WAGE INCREASE EXTENDED
TEN PER CENT. ADVANCE BY THE
LEHIGH COMPANY.

| AGhlVn SO<hA StN
Important Meeting of the Operators OF
the wyoming, LaoIsawnnna and lie
high Valley RESPONSIBILITIES Posted by
Latter Company After the Meeting
10 Take Up Other Grievances with Its
EmplOyes-Reading's Advance Fails to
Induce Mem to Return-NTore of ITS
CoIiieries Tied Up.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, Oct. 1.-The coal OPP
orators of the Wyoming, Lackawanna
and Lehigh Valley regions held an i'm
portant meeting in this city this after
noon and decided to offer the miners
an increase of 10 per cent. in wages and
also to reduce the cost of powder to
the miners from $2.T5 to $1.50 per keg.
| The whole situation was thoroughly
discussed, nearly all those present TAX
ing part. The powder subject was the
| chief one of debate and next came the
recognition of the union. So far as can
be learned none of the operators were
in favor of recognizing the union in
any way This evening w. A. Lathrop,
the chairman of the meeting, gave out
the following statement for the Lehigh
| Valley company:
| Notice. This company makes the fol-
| lowing announcement to Its mine en-
ployes. 1t will adjust its rates Of wa
| ges so as to pay to its mine employees
on and after October 1 net increase of
! 10 per cent. on the wages heretofore re-
ceived, and will take up with its mine
employees any grievances which they
may have.
Signed: w A. Lathrop,
General Superintendent.
1t is understood from the above state
ment that powder will be served to min
ers for 81 so and that the difference be-
tween this rate and the old rate of
$275 shall be taken into account In fig
uring the next advance of 10 per cent.
noted above for this class of labor
Similar notices to the above will be
posted by all the other companies repre-
sented at the meeting. The strikers say
that under no circumstances will they
accept the offer. They claim it is not
as good an offer as the Reading COM
pany made to It's men. The union is
ignored and the net increase must come
out of the price of the powder.
e. M Palmer, chairman of the press
committee at United Mine Workers
headquarters said; The men will not
return to work under such conditions
1t is no. a fair offer"
The operators will make no further
move until they hear from the men.
At United Mine Workers headquar-
ters this statement was given out:
What we want Is:
IA better enforcement of existing
mine laws.
'2-To obtain that which Is fully our
own, /. e, the value of labor actually
performed and hitherto taken from us.
''3-To obtain the right to purchase
our implements of labor at fair mark
ct value and escape from the compul-
sorry rule which forces us to pay to the
operators more than twice what the
same materials can be purchased foF
in the open market
"4-To allow a readjustment of the
wage scale that will nearly conform to
the normal conditions of the anthracite
trade and establish as nearly as prac-
ticable a uniform price for each class
of work in and around the mines"
The strikers say until these conces-
sions are granted and the union recog-
nized they will not return to work
Shenandoah, Pa, Oct Panther
Creek valley, In Carbon county, Is now
the objective point of the strike leaders.
The Lehigh Coal and Navigation COM
pany operates a number of big collieries
there, all Of which have been working
undisturbed since the mine workers |
strike was inaugurated Last night a |
branch of the United Mine Workers !
was formed at Coaldale Organizer |
James informed President Mitchell that |
he anticipated a complete suspension of |
operations in the valley by the end of |
the week. The increase of ten per cent
in wages announced by the Philadel-
phia and Reading company had no ef-
feet on it's striking employees, unless it
was to strengthen their determination
to remain firm. The advance was to
have become operative to-day, but not
a solitary striker throughout the region
reported for work at any of the Read
ing company COlUsTleS. On the coll
lrary, the tie-up was extended to the
PottsviJle and Minersville districts and
to-day of the thirty-nine collieries op-
Grated by the Philadelphia and Read
ing Coal and Iron company only four
worked.
The Twelfth regiment, with the ex-
ception of one company, left for home
,o-day. The remaining company will
depart as soon as the tents are dry
enough to be packed.
Hazleton, Pa, Oct. 1.-Although the
labor leaders positively said they did
1nt fear a break in the ranks of the
coal strikers they were new
pleased to learn that the 10
ger cent advance granted by the Phila-
ielphia & Reading Coal & iron COM
]any in the Schuylkill valley was to-
ally ignored by the striking mine :
workers to-day II was predicted that
many of the strikers would return to
work under the belief that the 10 per
,ent. increase would be the limit Of
he operators concessions, but the
lnanimity of the men in deciding to
tand out for a further advance caused |
many remarks of surprise.
1t was expected in some quarters q
hat to-day would bring a turning t
,oint in the strike, but nothing came y