Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-11-24
At COMBINE 5 MERCY
The Mining Situation is Giving
the Independent Operators
Much Concern
DEPENDENT ON COAL ROADS
If Rise in Wages Is Granted They Will
Ask for Concession in Rates From
the Coal Roads, Otherwise They
Would Be Placed at Very Great
Disadvantage.

Scranton, Pa, Nov. 24.-The position
to be taken by the independent coal
operators with regard to the tentative
| agreement between the large coal COM
| panies and the mine workers to settle
their dispute outside the anthracite coal
strike commission but with the coneil-
/ iatory assistance Of the arbitrators has
not yet been definitely decided upon.
| The Independents held meeting last
night at which were present the repre-
sentative of abouttwenty-s companies
and a committee of nine was appointed
| to go to New York on Tuesday for the
purpose of meeting the presidents of
the coal carrying roads and learn from
them what the Independent companies
are to expect, providing they agree to
go along and adjust the labor dispute
without arbitration.
| The independent operators will
make firm stand for some recognition
! in the matter of settlement with the
miners. 1t is authoritatively stated
| that they will not assume the attitude
| of belligerents when the committee
meets the coal operators, nor will they
appear as suppliants. The independents
| feel that II an increase in wages Is
agreed upon they will want some con-
cession from the coal carrying railroads
| in order to compensate them for grant
| ing an increase to the miners
The Independent companies, 1t is un-
destood, do not sell their product d.
recny to the consumer. They turn it
over to the coal carrying roads, who
give the individual firms, generally
speaking, 65 cents on every dollar, re-
| tanning 50 cents for hauling and selling
the coal. The independents say that If
wages are increased the large compa-
MES have it within their power to in
crease the price of coal to the consumer
or maintain the present high price at
the mines, which was fixed by some
companies after the strike in order to
compensate them for the damage en-
tailed during the suspensLA1. The
/ independents say they must take what
! the companies give them-6 cents on
1 the dolar--but will make an effort to
have it increased to 20 or rs cents on
/ the dollar.
! The large coal companies have been
gradually absorbing the independent
companies. In 1900, the year of the last
| big strike, the independent companies
mined about % per cent of the entire
anthracite production, but now they
control only Is per cent.
| A representative of one of the coal
| rnp nil n
| present situation, said today:
The independent operator is in an
unfortunate position Every time the
large companies and the union get into
a conflict the smaller concerns, whose
men, as a rule, have no grievances.
are drawn into it and the independent
company must share the burden of the
| battle.
while the individual companies are
not willing to do so, many of them
/ feel it would be better to make terms
with the United Mine Workers of
America and live in peace than to have
their business disturbed every time
the others get into a snarl, which al
ways draws them into it, as a matter
/ of self preservation"
While nothing has been agreed upon,
the best forecast of an agreement that
can be made at this time is that the
men will receive in the neighborhood of
a 10 per cent increase, nine hour day,
the weighing of coal to be adjusted as
best it can, and agreements between
the men and the company by whom
they are employed. The agreements,
it is expected, will run for term of
two or three years from Nov. /. The
four principal demands of the miners
are for 20 per cent increase, an eight
hour day, weighing of coal wherever
practicable by the ton, and yearly trade
agreements.
A representative of the miners said
today that it is possible that the men
employed by each conf any will have
a committee or organization to deal
with the company officials, the men
to have the privilege of calling into the
conference for advice the national UNI
ion in cases of disputes.
| Ii this scheme is not adopted then
another which will have the collective
bargain idea, it is believed, will be
Iagreed upon.
The report that the commission was
the first to suggest that the opposing
forces get together on the outside il
true. The suggestion was made to
leading counsel on each side, and Mr.
MacVeagh went to New York and re-
celved the consent of the officials there.
They saw that the proceedings would
otherwise be interminable and, IL pos
sible, it would be better to have them
make another effort to settle their diff
1erences without having the commits
sion compel them to take something,
winch would not satisfy either party
In the meantime the commissioners
Will go ahead and study the situation
from facts and figures to be presented
just as they have been doing.
IOWA HAS MOST ROUTES.