The age-herald., 1901-06-30
t is a Renewal of the Con- tract That Expires
 Win Today BASED ON THE PRICE OF IRON
The Agreement Was Reached at Late Hour Last Night, and the Miners Convention Will ReassembIe
 Tuesday to Sign Contract.

All fear of strike In the Blrmino- ham district was aIIayed last night when the coal operators and miners agreed upon wage scale for the year beginning tomorrow. The scale Is as follows: Miners to receive 45 cents a ton when the average price of all grades of iron is $9 or less per ton, with an increase of 2Ia cents ton for each 50 cents advance in the price of Iron up to $11 ton, when they shall receive 55 cents, the maximum.
 An agreement between the miners and coal operators was reached last night by which the miners will be paid under the same scale that has been in force for the past two years. The only concession they gain is that all local questions arising from new conditions during the year shall be settled by committee composed of miners and operators.
 The announcement of the agreement was made last night at 10:3o o'clock, when the miners convention adjourned from an executive meeting which had been in session for about five hours.
 The final contract has not been signed and will not be signed until Tuesday af- ternoon at o'clock, when the miners. convention win reassembIe. In the mean time the question will be submitted to the various locals of tho Alabama dis- trlct of the United Mine Workers of Amer lea for their acceptance, as Is the regular custom regarding the scale settlshaent. The agreement reached is that tho miners shall accept the contract now in force without any change whatever other than the section respecting new condi- tions. This section is in full as follows:
 The New Clause.
 IT new conditions should arise during the life of this contract adversely affect ing the miner or operator, and no settle ment of the question can be made by fhe local committee and mine officials. the question may be referred by the miners or operators to a board composed of five members of the district executive com mittee of the United Mine Workers and an equal number of operators, who shall decide whether or not it is a new condf- ton within the meaning of the section If 1t is decided not to be, then the ql1es- tion shall be considered no further If it is decided to be proper for the decision of this board, 1t shall then be taken up and decided upon the merits of this case after a full and free investigation: and in al oac Sox xx,,ta nf shall be final.
 Pending the decision of the board there shall be no stoppage of work. In the event of tie vote an arbitrator shall be agreed upon, whose decision shall be final.
 All expenses of arbitration to be divided equally between miners and operators. Yesteray's Meetings. The Miners convention reassembled yesterday at 10 o'clock and discussion of the questions was renewed with espe- cial vigor. in order that some agreement might be reached during the day. At the meeting it was announced that the oper- ators had refused to accept the proposi- ton of the miners made during the pre- vious afternoon.
 This proposition which was refused called for the old scale with the. changes in clauses respecting two weeks pay day,
 
 collecting of union fees through the company offices. When faced with the refusal the min CTS began the discussion of another proposition for submission to the operators.
 After several hours discussion the convention finally agreed to submit a proposition to the operators accepting last years scale in full with the one ad, dition respecting the settlement of all new conditions that might arise during the year. They proposed that this clause should refer all new conditions to the officers of the national union
 The proposition was refused by the op- orators. but in refusing the clause they recognize the rights of the miners in the one question and made the counter prop osition which was accepted.
 The convention assembled at o'clock in the evening at the Fox building, and there began the debate on whether or not the question of an equal representa- ton should be given the operators on the committee which should settle new con- ditions. All hope of any other conces- sions was gone. For several hours they debated the matter until finally at 10:30 o'clock, they accepted the proposition.
 Referred to the Locale.
 The convention, in accepting the prop position of the operators. decided not to sign contract. but to refer the question to the various locals of the union.
 These organizations are to take up the question at meetings to be held Monday throughout the entire district
 The convention will reassemble Tuesday afternoon at o'clock to finally settle the question and sign the contract for the coming year.
 There was a general feeling of pleasure and relief among the miners and opera tors both last night when the final agreement was reached. Although all recognized yesterday morning that a set clement would be reached during the day. there was barely a perceptfble fear that something might happen to cause a strike.
 The acceptance of the contract now in force will place the operators in a posi- ton to fight with much strength the in troduction of fuel oil to any considerable extent, and win allow~1he miners to cons tinue. their work