New-York tribune., 1900-10-02
LEHTGH COMPANYS OFFER.
TEN PER CENT INCREASE OFFERED, BUT
MINERS STILL HOLD BACK.
tBv TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBUSE.I


wiIkesbarre. Penn, Oct. 1.-The representa-
tives Of twenty-five coal companies met here
this afternoon in an endeavor TO decide upon
proposition Of settlement of the strike, and after
three hours session, in which a discussion of
all the grievances Of the and all the feat
ures of the situation ensued. the meeting ad-
1ourned without any general action being taken.
The operators agreed to decide individually
what to do and the Lehigh Valley Coal Com
pany led the way by issuing the following notice.
which will be posted at all its mines in the
morning:
This company makes the following announce
1nent 10 its mine employees: 1t will adjust its
rates of wages TO pay TO its mine en-
ployes. on and after October 1. net increase
OF 10 per cent on the wages heretofore received,
and it VIII take up with it's mine employees any
grievances which they may have
". A. LATHROP, General Superintendent
Note-It is understood in the foregoing that
powder will be sold to miners for 81 30 per keg,
and that the difference between this rate and the
old rate of 81 75 shall be taken into account in
figuring the net advance of 10 per cent noted
above for this class Of labor.
The companies represented were: Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western, E. z. Loomis Scran-
ton; Delaware and Hudson, c. c. Rose, Scran-
ton; Lehigh and wifkAsparre, W. J. Richards.
wflkesbarre; Susquehanna Company Morris
Williams wilkesbarre; Lehigh Valley, w. A.
Lathrop, wilkesbarre; Hillside Coal and Iron
Company. w. A. May, Scranton; New-York and
Scranton Company, W. H. Storrs Scranton;
Seneca Company, Z. L. Fuller, Scranton; Pardee
g. Co., Calvin and Frank Pardee, Hazleton Mill
Creek Company. T. D. Jones. Hazeton; Lentz &
Co. w. o. Lentz Mauch Chunk; Dodson Coal
Company, E. l. Bullock. Audenried; Jernyn &
Co. John Jernyn, Scramton; Stevens Coal Com
pany. H. W. Kingsbury. Scranton; Clear Spring
Coal Company, ]. S. Cake. West Pittston Tenn
pie Iron and Coal Company, T. II. Watkins,
Scranton: ConneT Co, William Connell.
Scranton; Kemmerer & Co., NJ. S. Kemmerer,
Sandy Run; West End Coal Company, John N.
Conynghana. WiIkesbarre; Latin Coal Company,
Rees Brooks. Scranton: C. P. Hunt and A ].
Davis, wilkesbarre, representing their own
mines.
DISAGREEMENT AMONG OPERATORS.
The meeting was called to order about 2:3O
the operators meeting in the Luzerne Medical
Society rooms, the offices of the Lehgh
Valley Coal Company. where 1t was to have
been he'd, proved too small for the crowd. The
greatest care exercised lest anybody should
gain admittance who not entitled to be
present. The meeting lasted three hours, in
which there a general discussion of the
conditions, some favoring thing and some
another. The representatives of small
panes The individual operators who sell directly
from their mines to the big railroads. fought
against offering an increase declaring they
could not afford it at the present price paid
them for coal.
In the end the Lehigh Valley officials left the
meeting and at their office drew up the notice
they viii issue in the morning. This was sub
mitted TO the meeting. but vote was taken
and the operators adjourned. The Lehigh and
wikesbarre, which is a part of the Central
Railroad of New-Jersey; the Delaware, Laclla-
wanna and Western ard the Hillside Coal and
Iron Company, otherwise the Erie Railroad, will
post similar notices. The Susquehanna Coal
Company which is closely affiliated with the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company. and the Della
ware and Hudson Company officials have not
yet decided what to do. The individual opera
tors say they will wait to see the results Of the
big companies offer.
Several strikers reading the statement to-
night laughed and said:
Nothing is said about recognizing the union,
and want that first OF all. the rest is not
worth considering. It is only a waste OF paper.
THE woRKINGMENs POSITION.
The strikers of this district, seventy-fve thou
sand in number, who have tied UP their region
completely, not going TO accept readily any
offer from the operators unless it is accom-
panied by a promise to recognize the union.
This point they have decided upon and will