The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-11-25
10 CONFER In WASHINGTON
CONTINUED from First Page.)


instead of he making the journey to
Scranton. Mr.. barrow said that Mr..
MacVeagh did not tell him what he
wanted the conference for, but he felt
that Mr. MacVeagh would not summon
them to the national capital if he were
not qualified or clothed with authority
to carry on negotiations. Mr.. Mitch
ellis party left here at 4:S5 p. m. and
are due to arrive in Washington at
1850 a. m. Those who went along be-
sides Mr.. Mitchell and Mr. barrow
were Henry D. Lloyd, of Chicago, an
adviser, and Miss E. c. Morris, Mr.
MitcheIPs private secretary. From
Washington it is expected the party
will go to New York, returning here on
Friday.
The larger part of the committee Of
independent operators left for New
others left earlier in the day.
The mission of the Independent oper-
ators to New York is best expressed in
a statement made to the Associated
Press by one of the representatives of
the small companies, who said: The
Independent operator has no income be-
yond the profits derived from mining
coal. When the mining of coal and the
breaker is stopped his revenues also
cease, but the expense in maintaining
the property goes on. The large COM
panies owned by the railroads depend
on their freight rates to maintain their
collieries while in idleness The indie
pendent companies are paying the min
ers as much now as they can afford,
and If an increase in wages is granted
by the large companies the large COM
panies must give the independents
lower freight rate to meet the increase
in wages. This is the mission of the
committee. If they refuse to make
concession in freight rates, or It's equiv
aIent,, then it is probable the independ-
ent companies will insist on the whole
matter being threshed out before the
commission. The independent compa
MES feel they have good case and are
willing to leave it to the commission.
Mr.. Mitchell in his testimony before
the commission last week said that 5000
a year would be fair American stand
ard of living wages. Some of the indie
pendent companies are paying an aver
age of over 800 year, while the large
companies are paying under those fig
ures. Therefore, if a ten per cent. in
crease is agreed upon, the amount of
money to be paid the men by the indie
pendents would be greater than that CT
the large companies"
Several of the resident attorneys of
the large companies also went to New
York, also for the purpose of comforting
with the head officials of the companies
they represent. They pleaded ignor-
ance as to any developments in the sit
uation. Nothing was done here looking
towards a settlement of the existing
differences without the aid of the strike
commission. Mr.. Darrow had brief
conference with Ira H. Burns, one of
the attorneys for the independent coal
companies, but both gentlemen said
there was no significance to it.
The outlook for settlement is more
hopeful than ever. Conversations with
attorneys, coal operators and mine
workers show that all are wearying Of
the strife and are willing to waive a
point here and there in order to end the
uncertainty of the situation and restore
peace and harmony to the coal trade
generally.
There is some talk of having congress
enact law making a$permanent board
of the coal strike commission; but moth
ing definite in this line has yet been
done.