The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-30
PARTED IN GOOD FEELING
MINERS AND OPERATORS AD-
JOURNED THE JOINT CONFERENCE.
Will Consult with Principals Con-
corning the Powder Question,
which Will He Settled Next Month.
70 the Inaianapolis journal.

Special 10 the Indianapolis Journal
TERRE HAUTE. Ind, March 29.-When
the Indiana operators and miners adj
journed their joint conference, 10 meet
again April 10. il was done in the best of
good humor and with the mutual under
standing that the time was needed in which
to adjust certain matters so that the wages
contract could be signed April 10 without
further delay. All the difficulty was on the
powder question. The miners had yielded
the demand for the weekly pay day, and 1t
is understood that in their convention the
vote was two to one in favor of conceding
the semi-monthly pay day IL the operators
would not insist on binding the men to buy
powder from the employing operator. Many
of the miners had come with ironclad in
structions in regard to powder, so that
even should the powder price be made
acceptable, or the strife between the pow
der trust and the operators new company
be brought TO an end, these miners could
not sign the contract specifically requiring
Therefore it was deemed advisable to give
them time to consult with their local
bodies.
On the part of the operators the time
was wanted in which the operators could
adjust the powder business so as to remove
il as a bone of contention. For years the
miners have been asking to have the pow
der price fixed in the signed contract, but
the operators, while holding that they were
entitled to the trade in powder. have de-
clined to make 1T a provision of the signed
contract. Now. when the operators had
been forced TO ask for contract the
miners were CT a mind to patronize the
powder trusts representatives, who were
offering powder ar 80 cents less a keg. 1t
has been understood all along that if the
trust succeeded in running the operators
powder company out of business the price
OF powder would be advanced. The under
standing is that some sort of agreement
viii be reached in the powder business by
which the operators can make contract
with the miners to continue selling powder
at $1.75 keg. In the proposition submit
ted by the operators at the beginning of
the present conference IL was provided that
the price of powder should be advanced in
proportion to the amount of advance in the
price paid to the miner for mining This
would mean $210 keg under the new so
cent scale for mining as agreed on by the
interstate conference. The operators have
waived that provision and will begin at
$1.75. They will be willing to adopt the
as follows: THAT the price per keg for
powder be $1.75, the miners agreeing TO pur-
chase their powder from the operators, pro-
vided they furnish powder Of standard
grade and quality, that to be determined by
the operators and expert miners jointly
where there is difference" The Indiana
operators say that they have right to be
put on equal terms with the operators of
the other States which are parties to the
interstate agreement. and that the under
standing at Indianapolis. was that they
were to have the benefit of the profit in the
powder trade and which has been conceded
by the miners in other States to operators
in those States.
The paragraphs of the contract that will
have to be agreed after the powder
question shall have been settled will be
easily disposed of. One is that the time
for beginning work shall be in the morning
and the length of intermission at noon shall
be considered local question. The para
graph fixing the "eight-hour day" is as fol-
lows:
THAT the above scale is based upon an
eight-hour work day; that it is definitely
understood that this shall mean eight hours
work at the face, exclusive of the noon
time; six days in the week, or forty-eight
hours in the week, and that no local ruling
shall in any way deviate from this agree
ment, or impose conditions affecting the
same, but any class of day labor may be
paid at the option of the operator for the
number Of hours and fraction thereof actu-
ally worked at the hour rate, based on one
eighth of the scale rate per day, provided
that when the men go into the mine i'm the
morning they shall be entitled to two
hours pay, whether the mine works or not,
as provided in the above agreement for in
side day labor; providing, further, that
overtime of day labor shall be paid for at
the same rate per hour
Another paragraph provides for arbitra-
ton when difference arises between the
operator and miners at any mine, and that
work shall not be suspended pending set
Element. If the parties themselves cannot
Immediately reach an agreement the ques-
ton shall be referred TO board of arbitra-
ton of two operators selected by the OPP
orator interested and two miners selected
by District No. IL of the United Mine
Workers. If the four cannot agree they
must select a fifth member.