The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-11-07
OPERATORS WILL REPLY
Right to Organize One of the Chief
Contentious of the
Miners.

commission on Saturday night, was
made public today. Copies of the
statement have been furnished to the
operators, who will reply in three or
four days. The miners statement in
full is as follows:
To the Anthracite Coal Strike Com
mission: The miners make of the
operators the following demands,
which were formulated by the Shame
kin convention held March 10 to "a,
and for the enforcement of which the
strike was inaugurated.
First, an increase of 20 per cent
On the prices paid during the year
1901 to employees performing contract
or piece work. This demand is made
On account of the following reasons:
/. The rate of wages is much low
err than the rate of wages paid in the
bituminous fields for substantially sim
liar work.
2. The present rate of wages is
lower than is paid in other occupa-
lions requiring equal skill and train
ing.
3. The average annual earnings in
the anthracite coal fields are much
less than the average annual earn
ings in the bituminous coal fields for
substantially similar work.
4. The average annual earnings in
the anthracite coal fields are much
less than the average annual earnings
for occupations requiring equal skill
and training.
5. The rate of wages in the anthra-
cite coal fields is insufficient to COM
pensate the mine workers in view of
the dangerous character Of the occu-
patton in relation to accidents, the
liability to serious and permanent dis
ease, the high death rate and the
short grade of life incident to this
employment.
6. The annual earnings of the mine
workers are insufficient to maintain
the American standard of living.
Z. The increased cost of living has
made it impossible to maintain a fair
standard of life on the basis of pres
emit wages and has not only prevent
ed the mine workers from securing
any benefit from increased prosper
ity but has made their condition poor
er on account of it.
s. The wages of the anthracite
mine workers are so low that their
children are permanently forced into
the breakers and mills instead of be-
ing supported and educated upon the
earnings of their parents.
8. Wages are below the fair and
just earnings of mine workers in this
industry.
Second-A reduction of 20 per cents
in the hours Of labor, without any re-
duction of earnings for all employees
paid by the hour, day or week.
The second demand is similar to
the first in that it is designed to in
crease the hourly rate of wages of
mine workers employed by the hour,
day or week, and all the reasons appli-
cable to the first demand are asked
to be applied to the second, with repi-
tition.
In addition we submit the follow
ing:
10. The 1O-hour day is detrimental
o the health, life, safety and well be-
ing of the mine workers.
IL. Shorter hours improve the
physical, mental and moral condition
of the workers.
IL. Shorter hours increase the in
tensity and efficiency of labor.
10. The tendency Of national and
state government of organized trade
and of production generally is toward
shorter hours.
IA. A working day of eight hours
is sufficiently long for the best inter-
est of the workingman and of the
community.
~Third-The adoption of a system by
which coal shall be weighed and paid
for by weight wherever practicable;
the minimum rate per ton to be so
cents for a legal ton of 2,24O pounds;
the di%fferentials now existing at the
various mines to be maintained.
This demand is made on account of
the following reasons:
1. Measurement by the legal ton
wherever practicable is the only hon
est and just system of measuring the
earnings of mine workers.
2. When the operators sell or
transport coal, it is on the basis of a
legal ton of 2,24O poundn.
3. The excessive ton va original
ly intended to compensate the opera
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