Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-03-13

fecting a settlement on their
plans. They say that they cannot af.
ford to run their mines now, and will
have to shut them down if they are
compelled to pay more for the produc.
ton OF coal. Both sides hope to come
to an agreement, however, and it is
thought that one will be reached,
though what it will be no one feels
able to even surmise.
Executive Board Meeting.
A meeting of the joint executive
board was held yesterday afternoon af.
ter the adjournment of the joint con-
ference. The case which took up the
most time is that of the Eveland Coal
Co. at Eveland. The company claims
that the miners shut down this mine
Monday on account of a failure on the
part OF the company to pay to the
miners union dues of one of the min
ers to the amoun of So. The miner
has left the employ of the company
and the S. claimed by the union, it
is said, was held by the company to
pay for powder and other supplies.
Inis case was not settled at yester-
days meeting, and neither was that
concerning the payment of the wages
of shot firers at Lost Creek. The
company demands that the miners pay
this cost, while the miners demand
that the company do so. Another
meeting of the board will probably be
held this afternoon or this evening to
settle these cases.
Situation in First Distrist.
The condition in the first district
which has caused all of the trouble is
a hard one to get around. The miners,
through John Reese of Abba. their
president. stated in the scale commit
tee meeting that they would not allow
the scale to be lowered II iota. but
rather demanded an advance over last
years scale, saying that the price now
being paid for entry driving is INSULT
cient and not fair to the miner. On
the other hand, the operators, through
David Lodwick, of Willard, stated lust
as emphatically that the mine owners
Of the first, or southern sub-district.
would not agree to any change in the
scale which carried with it an increase
of even the smallest fraction of a cent
in the cost of production of coal.
The operators and miners do not
seem to have changed their respective
positions in this matter. They both
maintain that they are now working
at a loss sometimes; that is, the mi
ners say that the first sub-district
mines pay less for their coal than any
other mines in the state. while the op-
orators say that their market is con-
tracing so that they cannot sell as
much coal nor make as good a profit
as formerly. They cite examples of
companies which have failed in the
first sub-district, and prophesy that
others will follow on the same route if
the miners persist and succeed in their
demands for an increase in the cost
of production.
There are almost $50 companies in
the operators association. and almost
every one of them is represented at
the Joint convention today. There are
about 165 miners in attendance. these
having remained in the city since the
completion of their separate conven-
tion which was held last week.
Shot Firers.
The matter of shot firers will no
doubt come strongly before the scale
committee or the Joint convention this
year. Representative Kendall has act
ed upon the recommendations of the
commission appointed in accordance
with his bill, and has drafted a bill pro-
viding for shot examiners, but has left
shot tirers out. This does not satisfy
the miners, many of whom claim that
there are some mines in the state
where shot firers are absolutely neces-
sary.
Too Much Holiday.
To rebut the shot firing matter, as
it were. the operators will again bring
forth their complaint about the min
ers habit of taking holidays without
notifying their superiors. This is Elk
Senator H. L. Waterman's pet hobby,
and this year he seems determined to
gain his point.
A Resume.
From present indications it seems
that the operators and miners have
simply strengthened their own stands
with regard to the situation in the
first sub-district. They have come in
greater numbers than in the scale
committee. and the two bodies in the
joint convention have every power to
act with regard to the scale, but when
they cannot agree, as they say they
cannot, on a compromise, this fact
will, it seems, do them but little good.
Neither side seems willing to talk ex-
tensively about the condition of af-
fairs, not wishing to betray it's posi-
ton, but the whole matter will come
out today. and the of set
ting the dispute will be solved
W. H. Powell.