Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-20
OTTUMWA SELECTED
Next Miners and Operators Joint
Convention to be Held Here.
SCALE AND RESOLUTIONS RATIFIED.
Des MoInes Conference Adjourns Yes.
terday After Reaching a Complete
Agreement-Results Are
Far Reaching.

tefday After Reaching u Complete
Agreement-Results Are
Far Reaching.
Des Moines, March little mine
operators and mine workers of Iowa
concluded their joint conference in
this city yesterday, after a session
which has lasted since Feb. 20. The
scale was submitted as the report of
the joint scale committee to the
Joint conference, and was ratified
att once by that body without dissen-
: sion. In the afternoon the joint con-
8enltlon adjourned, naming Ottumwa
as the place of holding the next annu-
al meeting. In additions to accepting
the scale as reported by the commit
tee, the joint conference adopted a
number of rules for the guidance and
control of the miners and operators
working under the uniform scale adj.
opted during the coming year.
The results of the convention are
f~aT-reaching. For the first time in the
history of the business in the state has
a uniform scale been adopted, that will
compel the operators TO work together
and in harmony with each other. Coal
Will undoubtedly advance in price in
the state. The miners have been sue.
cessful in obtaining what amounts to
an actual increase of about, on the ay.
erage, Is per cent, and to meet this in
crease in The cost of mining the opera.
tors will be compelled to advance the
price of coal about 25 cents a ton. Nc
one will complains if the miners get
the benefit.
Before adjournment ex-Presidens
John +. Ream, of the United Mine
workers oil Iowa, was presented with
a handsome gold watch by the operat'
ors and miners together. The presen,
sation speech was made by Senator III
IL. Waterman, who has acted as chair,
man OF the joint convention.
The stIron CladY Rules.
The 'Iron-clad" rules or the reso
buttons under Which the miners have
been working have formed a subject of
discussion almost as important as the
scale itself; and since the practical.
adoption of the scale over a week ago
theDminers have done very little be-
sides discussing the question OF resolu.
tions and rules, of work to be enforced
in the, different mines. The question.
of buying supplies, of employing
union work, etc.,were among the most
important of these, and eevry step was
contested with as much vigor as were
the steps which led up to the compro-
mise on prices. The rules and resolu
tons are as follows:
First-The above scale is based, or
an eighr-hour day and it is definitely
understood and agreed that an eight.
hour day means eight hours work in
the mine at usual, working, places,
when required by the operator, Sun
days and legal holidays excepted, and
except where by present local custom
a half holiday is given on paydays fo1
all classes of inside labor, exclusive OF
the time required in reaching such
working places in the morning and
departing from the same at night. Re.
garding drivers, they shall take-theil
mules to and from the stables and the
time required in so doing shall not in
clude any part of the days labor, Their
work beginning when they reach the
place at which they receive empty a
but in no case shall drivers time be
deducted while he is waiting for sucl
cars ait the point named.
Second-The eight-hour day shall
commence at z 8. m. from April i to
October ], and at 8 a. m. from October
1 ito April /.
r Third-That if any miner be docked
1 for sending out dirty coal he shall he
notified by the pit foreman; if he be
locked a second time he. shall be laid
off two days; if he be locked a third
time within fifteen days from the time
of the first offense he shall be dis
I charged, but before his discharge the
pit committee and superintendent
shall investigate said case and il found
guilt the penalty; may be. enforced
Fonrth-That in accordance with the
state law the company shall furnish TIL,
necessary timbers at the mouth of the
room and the miner shall keep his
room securely propped, If a miner
working in a room fails to securely
prop the same and neglects to prop as
directed by the pit foreman,orcareless
~ shoots down the props OF timber.
and a fall of slate occurs thru such
failure, neglect or carelessness, he
shall Immediately clear his roadway. Of
such piles of slate, and if it be neces.
sary shall re-timber and in case if his
neglect to do so the company may de
such work and charge the expense
thereof TO the miner. In case the
room has been properly timbered as
above set forth and the roof from an,
cause becomes so heavy as to require
double. timber. the company Shall
when notified by the miner do the nee.
essary work to protect the roadway.
Where The fall of slate occurs betweel
the inside props and the face Of hi
room of an average thickness. not t,
exceed three inches he shall immedi
ately remove such fall and in case o
his neglect to do SO the company ma,
do such work and charge The expens
thereof TO such miner; if of create
thickness he shall notify the pit fore
man who shall as soon as practicabl
furnish the necessary labor to. max
such removal. If the miner is dissat
isfied with the decision of the pit fore
maj AN appeal may be taken to tn,
superintendent and the president O
the local union. who shall decide til
question and their decision shall b
slf 80