The age-herald., 1901-06-27
THE COAL SCALE
 YET UNSETTLED
Though It is Reported Progress
 Was Made Yesterday.
JOINT COMMITTEE WORK
President Baxter Talks to the Com mittee, and MT. Fairley Tells of Recent Experiences in Ohio.
 Settlement Tomorrow.

The joint committee of the Miners Union and the coal operators was in ses- sion several hours yesterday but, accord ing to statements from members compos- ing 1t, no agreement was reached on any question nor any report agreed upon.
 The committee discussed all manner of questions and conditions that might affect the question of the scale status, and list ened to arguments from prominent out side men interested in the action But it will this morning report that no progress has been made in the 4natter of arranging a scale.
 Both the scale of the Operators Associ- ation and the Miners Union have been refused acceptance as a whole and the committee Is now trying to reach an agreement whereby a new scale may be formulated without any considerable con sessions being demanded by either side.
 It was reported about the streets dur ing the afternoon yesterday that the com mittee had practically agreed to allow the present scale to stand as it now stands with respect to the first clause, having reference to the basis for all wages. This clause provides that miners shall receive 45 cents per ton as a minimum and 50 cents as a maximum for work in digging the cial, the prices to change, as the prices of pig iron change from $S to s11. No definite statement would be made as to the correctness of this rumor, but it Is generally believed to be well based.
 MT. Baxter Talks.
 President Nat Baxter, Jr., of the Ten nessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company appeared before the joint committee yes terday morning and made a talk on the conditions now existing and the scales of fered for the consideration of the com mittee. His talk was in the nature of an informal discussion and in 1t he review ed the work of the past year, the general effect of the present scale and the effect any change tending to increase the cost would have.
 He also spoke of the oil question and told of the effect 1t had had with the agents of the Tennessee company in the southwestern section of the country He advised careful and conservative consid- eration of all the minor questions as well as of the greater matters.
 The speech was delivered before the members of the joint committee and some of the officers of tAe miners union, and was given very close attention by every person in the room.
 MT. Baxter was followed by MT. Fair, the advisor of the members of the min CTS union in the joint committee. He discussed the questions presented for the consideration of the committee and told of the manner by which they had beeen settled at the recent meeting in Colum- bus, O. He also reviewed the present conditions and spoke at some length of all matters that might influence the com mittee in affecting an agreement. His speech was a we'll directed effort from the miners standpoint, delivered in an effective manner and carried with 1t much influence.
 After the talks of the two leading men the committee resumed the discussion of the scale.
 The afternoon session was taken up with discussions.
 Miners Have Meeting.
 meeting of the miners convention was held yesterday morning. but was ad- journed until this morning upon the re- port of President Flynn that nothing had been accomplished by the joint scale committee and nothing could be expected before Friday. An effort was made to have the adjournment taken until Friday but it was voted down.
 It was stated by MT. Flynn that a com mittee had called upon him and requested an audience for the purpose of present ing some facts to the convention rela- tive to the railroad commission of the State. He stated that this committee was advocating law which should have as it's purpose the election of railroad commissioners by the people and the pay ment of their salaries by the State. The present plan Is for the Governor to ap- point the commissioners and the rail- roads to pay their salaries.
 The convention decided to hear from. the committee and will allow the men forming it to state their position on the question at a meeting to be called to or der at o'clock Friday morning.
 During the session of the convention, R. H. Skinner, negro delegate, sound ed a note of alarm and warning when he stated that the miners of his race and his part of the district were anxious for some kind of action. They were growing restless and uneasy under the continual adjourning of the convention and the ev- erlasting discussion of questions. He was informed that he was out of order and told that he should report to his people that the convention was making as much progress as could be expected.
 The miners adjourned their meeting un- til this morning at o'clock.
 A meeting of the joint committee will be held this morning as usual in the Fox building and efforts will be made to ac- complish some marked progress on the report relative to a scale.
 Hoods Sarsaparilla builds j'r the tired Hoods