The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-11-05
MINERS STATEMENT
Of THEIR DEMANDS |: J ! |. nj )
Mitchell Presents Formal Paper
ito the Commission.
MORE. PAY; SHORTER HOURS
The Men Want Reorganized Standard
ofWork and the Recognition OF the
Union-Bref Submitted Will
Be Carefully Considered.

TRy a ssociated Press.)

\ (SyASSOClateQeFI eSS1
/ HAZELION, PA, Nov. A- -ll4h'e
ment OF the anthracite NINE ~oi NJ,
4 case, which was flied with me SUM
commission on Saturday nlsnt' VS. .s'
made public to-day. COPIES " ~
statement have been furnished - ~
operators. who viii, reply in three OF
fa,,r DAYS The miners statement in.
1 full is as follows:
/ The mine workers make OF the op-
| orators the following demands. Whichs
| were formulated by the Shamokin Con-.
| yention held March 1924. and for the
| enforcement of which the strike was
| inaugurated:
FIRsT-MoRE PAY.
| FRS; an increase of 20 per cent
/ upon the prices paid during the year
1901 TO employees performing contract
or piece-work. This demand is made.
owing to the following reasons:
H. The present rate of wages is n1acn8
! lower than5the rate Of wages paid In
| the bituminous coal fields for substan-1
! tally similar work.
- The present rate of wages IS lower
| than is paid in other occupations re-
| curing equal skill aud training
II ne 2Sera ye annual
anthracite coal field are much less than
| the average annual earnings in the bit
luminous coal fields for substantially 81
milar work.
| l. The average annual earnings in the
!! anthracite coal fields are much less than
| tbs average annual earnings for occu-
| o ions requiring equal shill@ard train.
| Ing.
5. The rate OF wages in the anthra-
| cite coal fields in insufficient to compen-3
| safe the mine workers III view Of the
| dangerous character of the occupation IN
| relation to accidents the liability to ser.
| ious ard permanent disabilities. the hlsh
death rate and the short grade life Incl
I dent to this employment.
| IS The annual earnings of the nine.
| workers are insufficient to maintain the.
( American standard of living.
70. The increased cost of living has
made it impossible to maintain n fair
standard of life upon the basis of pres
ent wages and has not only prevented
the mine workers from securing any bene-5
TT from increased prosperity. but has
made their condition poorer owing to
it.
1.-THE wages OF the anthracite mine
workers are so low that their children are
prematurely forced into the breakers and
NILS instead of being supported and
educated upon the earnings of their par
cnts.
9. Wages are below the fair and just
earnings Of mine workers in this indus
Try
SECOND-r-SHGRTER HOURS.
second-A reduction of 20 per cent of
labor Without any reduction of earnings
for ali employees paid by the hour, day
or week. The second demand is simi-8
lar to the first III that ii is designed to
increase the hourly rate of wages Of mine
workers employed by the hour. day or
week. and all the reasons applicable to
the first demand are asked to be applied
to the second repetition. In addition
thereto ne submit the following:
10. The ten-hour day is detrimental to
the health life safety and weil-being OF
the mine workers.
H. Shorter hours improve the physi-
cal. mental, and moral conditions of the
workers.
L. Shorter hours increase the intensity
and efficiency of labor.
10. The tendency Of National and State
Government, of organized trade and OF
production generally. is toward shorter
hours.
H. A working day OF eight hours ia
of the workingme and of the connlun-
ity.
THIRD-A STANDARD TON.
Third. The adoption of a system by
which coal shall be weighed and paid
for by weight. wherever practical BILE. thesI
minimum ate per ton to be sixty cents |
for a legal ton Of 2,24o rounds. the dil-
ferentials now existing at the various
mines to be maintained.
This demand is made owing to the fol- |
lowing reasons:
ant 1,I-f a loon 1