The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-11-15

1T 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. It is certainly not unjust
70 ask that these miners should re-
ceive as high wages as are paid 70
winers in the bituminous coal fields, in
the silver and gold mines, or in the
iron ore and copper mines. all Of
which work is less hazardous. freer
from liability to disease, requiring less
experience and less skill and is bet
ter paid than labor in the anthracite
coal fields"
In supporting the demand for the
reduction of the hours Of the day Ia
bOrers, Mr.. Mitchell said it amounted
10 demand Of % per cent increase
of compensation for $1,000 men. or 81
per cent of all mine employees.
Eight-hour Day.
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 BIZ
luminous coal mines in the states OF
Arkansas. Kansas, Missouri. Indiana.
Illinois, Iowa, Michigan. Kentucky.
western Pennsylvania and the Indian
Territory.
The reports Of the United states
geological survey demonstrate that
more coal has been produced annually
since the inauguration of the eight
hour day than in any preceding one
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 % to
40 per cent higher wages for eight
hours work than are paid in the an
thracite mines for ten hours work.
Defending the third demand, that
coal shall be weighed and paid for by
weight, and that 2,240 pounds shall con-
stitute ton. Mr.. Mitchell declared the
present method Of measuring the coal
produced by the miners in the Lack
aWanna, Wyoming and Lehigh regions
has been the source OF more discOn-
tent than any other CT the many in
justices imposed upon tie miners. and
there can be no contentment among
those workers until an honest system
has been established. Paving for coal
by the car or by the ton Weighing
from 2,140 to $50 pounds is a fagrant
injustice The cars have been
made larger, more topping is required
and there has been no corresponding
increase in the amount paid per car
or per ton The miners have been
forced to produce a constantly increas-
ing amount OF coal, for which they re-
ceive no additional compensation.
The miner should be paid for every
pound OF coal he mines that is sold by
the operators If 2240 pounds cOnSff-
tute ton when coal is sold TO the con-
sumer and when railroad companies axe
paid for transportating coal to market,
what justice can there be in denying
the miner the right to be paid for his
labor upon the same basis2
System Of Docking.
The anthracite companies. not salts
ned with an extra-legal ton of from
2,14O to $3.50 pounds, have a system OF
docking through which they apprODri-
ate an additional part of the miners
earnings. A miner IS locked all the
way from 500 TO 1000 pounds upon a
car, as penalty for loading impurities
for which he has already been penalized
to the extent OF from 700 to 800 pounds
in excess measure of weight; in other
words, he is punished twice for the
same offense.
"A system somewhat similar but less
unjust obtained in d portion OF the
bituminOus coal fields many years ago.
but the miners are now paid by weight
upon the basis OF d legal ton: they are
not only permitted but are sncOurag ci
by the operators to employ check
weighmen TO see that the product Of
their labor is properly weighed and a
correct record made thereof"
Mr. Mitchell then took uD the fourth
demand of the miners for a trade agree
ment with the necessary machinery for
the adjustment Of local grievances. He
outlined the history and policy of the
United Mine Workers OF America and
explained that by its constitution. an
thracite and bituminous mine workers
had home rule for the local governments
of local affairs.
The only manner he sai5, Sin which
the national organization is permitted
to interfere is that, before q strike IS
inaIgurated by the district Organiza-
ton, the approval Of che president OF
the national union must be obtained
but the president of the national organ
iZation has no authority TO ilaug9rate
d strike. Thus the ccaI mine operators
are afforded q greater measure Of pro-
lection against strikes than they would
have under a separate and independent
organization"
As to the responsibility OF the mine
workers organization, AIR Mitchell
said.
AT the present time the United Nina
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