Gilpin observer., 1902-11-20
ARBITRATION COURT BEGINS
INVESTIGATION OF COAL STRIKE

occupation lie limited. II he escapes
death or injury by falls or rock or coal
he cannot escape attacks of miners
asthma. There is scarcely mine
worker who has not contracted this
malady. The miners are compelled to
work in powder smoke. in foul air.
many of them in water, and their work
is difficult and exhausting. Reputable
insurance companies will not Issue pol
icies to this class of workmen-ths
risks are so great that the premiums
would be prohibitive to men whose
earnings are 80 low. The entire TWEEN
increase in their wages would not suf-
fee to carry an insurance policy of
$1,000.
TT seems but fair and just that
wages paid these classes of workmen
should be as high, If not higher, than
wages paid to skilled artisans in other
industries. 1t is certainly not unjust
to ask that these miners should re-
ceive as high wages as are paid to
miners in the bituminous coal fields, in
the silver and gold mines or in the
iron and copper mines, in all of which
work is less hazardous, freer from La
bility to disease, requiring less expe-
rience and less skill, and is better paid
than labor in the anthracite coal
fields"
In supporting the demand for the re-
duction of the hours of the day labor
ers, Mr.. Mitchell said that 1t amounted
to demand of twenty per cent. in
crease of compensation for $4,000 men,
or fifty-seven per cent. of all mine en-
ployes. Continuing, he said: ''The
eight-hour day is the standard working
day in the mining industry. Eight
hours constitute days work in the
coal mines of Great Britain. in all the
silver. gold and copper mines and In
the bituminous coal mines in the states
of Arkansas, Kansas. Missouri, Iowa,
Illinois, Indiana. Ohio, Michigan, Ken
lucky, in western Pennsylvania and the
Indian territory.
1.-The reports Of the United States
geological survey demonstrate that
more coal has been produced annually
since the inauguration of the eight
hour work day than in any preceding
year. Each miner produced more coal
per working day in eight hours than
he formerly produced in ten hours, and
there is no reason why the same re-
suits would not be obtained in the an
thracite field. The bituminous workers
receive in many instances from twenty
to forty per cent. higher wages for
eight hours work than are paid in the
anthracite mines for ten hours work. y
Defending the third demand that coal
be weighed and paid for by weight, and
that 2,24O pounds constitute a ton, Mr..
Mitchell declared the present method
of measuring the coal produced by the
miners in the Lackawanna, Wyoming
,, and Lehigh regions the source of more
discomfort than any other of the many
injustices imposed upon the miners.
and said that there would be no con-
tentment among these workers until
| an honest system should be adopted.
Tie miners had been forced to produce
a constantly increasing amount Of coal
| for which they received no additional
compensation. The docking system
was also denounced as double penalty
for one offense.
Taking up the fourth demand of the
miners for a trade agreement with the
necessary machinery for the adjust
ment of local grievances, Mr.. Mitchell
outlined the history and policy of the
United Mine Workers of America, and
explained that by its constitution the
anthracite and bituminous mine work.
ers had home rule for the local gov
ernment of local affairs. THE only
manner" he said, "in which the ma
tional organization is permitted to in
terfere Is that, before a strike is in
augurated by the district organization
the approval of the president Of the
national union must be obtained. But
tn" president of the national organiza-
ton has no authority to inaugurate Q
strike. Thus the coal mine operators
are affOrdad q greater measure of prO-
lection against strikes than they would
have under a separate and independent
organization