Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-07

engagements, attempt at harmony for
the region would but render the entire sub
ject more inequitable than at present. Add
to this the varying capabilities of the
miners, and can but contemplate a
scheme more leveling than F'ourier's pha-
lanx.
The miners demand that coal be weighed
and that they be paid per ton and not per
car as they are now at present. 1t can
scarcely be said that two collieries have
the same-sized cars; nor can it be said that
they are all different. If, however, the
coal should be weighed, each colliery would
base the payment on it's present rates
The companies would be compelled to re-
arrange their breakers and yard tracks,
purchase scales and employ checkmen at
considerable cost. Endless trouble, they
say, would result from such a radical
change.
Recognition of Union.
The most serious matter is the demanded
recognition of the union. AS is pretty gen.
orally known, the union consists of MEM
bers in practically all of the states where
coal Is mined. No difference is made be-
tween hard and soft coal miners. The op
era tors contend that officials of the United
Mine workers are not competent to settle
the difficulties of the miners of the an
thracite region. They claim that the mat
tiers are not only local in the sense that an
thracite coal is found in only small area,
but also local In that each cOllfery, or GER
tainly each operator has peculiar customs
and circumstances with which the parent
and general body cannot intelligently DEAL
The operators do not object to treating
with their employees as such, but have re-
fused to meet the union officials. They al
lege not only the reason above given but
add that any arrangement entered into by
the union must be SO general In its charac-
ter and sweeping in its terms that it could
avail nothing to help Of granted) the miners
of a. particular colliery locality. 1t is
also said that where the men have by the
organization entered into agreements, and
the agreement has affected a considerable
number of men, the miners have always
found way to break the agreement, as by
it's own weight the organization has fallen.
Recent official statements show the number
of mine employees to be as follows: Inside
men, 90, 600; outside, 48, 800 The miners,
meaning thereby those who actually mine
the coal, probably number about 36,5OO;
drivers probably, 10000. OF the outside en-
ployes 81 900 are "slate pickers."
The tons of anthracite coal mined, pre-
pared for and shipped to market is about
45, 600, 900 per annum; thus, for each en-
ploye Is produced about $50 tons, but the
miners and laborers below ground dig and
send up about twice that quantity per man.
Credit to Mitchell.
1t is greatly to the credit of President
Mitchell and the United Mine Workers that
the strike Of 1900, lasting from September
IT to October %, was conducted peaceably
and orderly. At that time an advance Of
10 per cent was granted by the operators;
the difficult sliding scale Of wages, based on
selling price of coal, was abolished and
some matters were conceded.
In April, 1901, the agreement Of October,
1900. continued for another year. AT
the expiration of this time no agreement
for the future having been reached the
matter was held in allegiance until May u
on which date the miners laid down their
tools. This not being effective, the pump
men and engineers were called out last
Monday. 1t is to be hoped that whatever
may be the result the strike will be con-
Quoted peaceably and without bloodshed, as
has characterized many previous strikes
1t is interesting to note the changes in
wages since 1874. Taking the base" as
provided in the sliding scale. the changes
have been as follows: January 4, 1875. 10
per cent reduction; September /. 1876 10
per cent further reduction; April 1, 1877.
10 per cent further reduction; December /
1879 10 per cent advance from previous
rate. and three additional advances Of 10
per cent each on this rate, granted Nav i
1880; July 1, 1882, and October %. 1890