Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-17

that they will be in a position to put men
at work cleaning up.
The Lehigh and Wilkesbarre, which has
eleven colieries and two washeries has
three colleries and two washeries working,
and is in position to open up every one OF
its properties tomorrow morning II the men
come back to work. Like the other COM
panies the Lehigh and Wilkesbarre will
have some cleaning up to do, but coal min
ing can be resumed as soon as the men re-
turn to work.
The Points of Contention.
It may be of interest to know the main
points of contention between the miners
and the operators to be settled by the arbi-
tration board. These are, an increase OF
wages, amounting to 20 per cent for the
miner and the laborer; an eight-hour day
for the laborer, the miner working by the
piece; a representative of the miner to
assist in weighing the coal.
1t is safe to say that the question of
deepest interest to the miner is the last
proposition, providing for his representative
at the weighing of the coal. The present
plan is this: The miners car of coal Is
hoisted to the top, where the docker, ap
pointed by the operator, estimates the
amount of slate it contains and the amount
Of free coal, for which the miner is to be
paid 1t has been claimed that the miner
There is no doubt that he has reasonab BILE
cause at least for complaint.
Three Examples Of Dockage.
Here are three examples taken at random
from the state mine inspectors report
year 1901:
One colliery of the Delaware and Hud-
son:
Tons of prepared coal, 234, ,32S.
Miners paid for, 1SS, ,329.
Coal actually shipped. 229, AL.
Steam and local trade, 5,150
Difference between tons produced and
tons for which miners were paid, 40 263.
Percentage Of coal not paid for 10 per
cent
Another Delaware and Hudson colliery:
Tons produced, 497 238.
Miners paid for, Ala, ,491.
Tons shipped, 49, ,20S
Steam and local trade, 81 OPT.
Difference between tons produced and
tons for which miners were paid, 80, IA.
Percentage miners were not paid for, 16
per cent.
An Ontario and Western colliery:
Tons produced, 2S9,956.
Tons for which miners were paid, 239, ,269.
Tons shipped 270,364.
Steam and local trade, 1852.
Difference between tons produced and
tons for which miners were paid, 5O6S7.
Percentage miners not paid for, 20 per
cent.
Contention Of the Operators.
The three foregoing propositions will be
the points upon which the miners will press
for liberal treatment. The operators main
contention will be the question Of unionism
and the right to employ whom they please.
1t is thought here that there will be a long
struggle. In the meantime the operators
will be doing business under the old terms
Whatever gain the miners make, however,
will be permanent, and it is certain that
the arbitration proceedings will be watched
with deepest interest by organized labor
throughout the country. n. o. NJ.
Delegates to Follow Mitchell.
MT. CARMEL, Pa, October 17.-Twenty
meetings of Locals of the United Mine
Workers We're held In this region today
and delegates to the Wilkesbarre conven
tion were chosen. In nearly every instance
the delegates were instructed to follow the
advice of President Mitchell and the dis
trict officers.