New-York tribune., 1902-12-06

stated that negotiations were suspended "for
the present" much stress placed by the
operators on that for the present clause. an1
IT is the hook upon which the continuation oi
the negotiations hung. These are now on
The present hearings merely for the pur-
pose of taking time under apparent appear
of making progress with the evidence.
while the hope of real progress Is in the settle
ment plans
certain Some of the operators within a
few days. but there are certain of the inde-
pendents who holding out. and. assured that
the commission will decide to hear their plea
If they. desire to make it, they are stuhbornlY
oo91esfng Tb the plans for oonsaion .s,on wtrb
the lawyers of each side, proposed blank
form on which they desire placed the informa-
ton they need.
This will be upon wages, weight of coal and
hours of work, and it is proposed that each
company fill in what is required and then sub
NIT it to the mine workers for their approval.
This plan will aid materially in reaching the
final settlement and result in all the informa-
ton desired being presented in the same way.
STATEMENT BY MR.. MACvEAGH.
Attorney Wayne Macveagh said of the situa-
ton before he went away this afternoon:
"A majority of the operators thought 1t bet
ter to adjourn all efforts to reach by amicahle
conferences a basis for the award of the COM
mission until both sides had presented all the
testimony they wished to offer. Whether the
efforts to reach such basis will be then re-
sumed can only be decided after the testimony
is closed.
Personally I think. in view of the extra
ordinary conditions existing in the anthracite
region that this was a mistaken attitude for
the operators to assume. / fear each day
testimony may tend TO increase the bitterness
of feeling out it was not only the right. but
the duty Of the operators to act on their own
Judgment IF the situation. and I sincerely hope
the result viii fully justify the conclusions they
reached
The result of all the present trouble the big
companies are having with the independents is'
II is understood. the promotion OF a plan TO alb
sorb them all and divide them among the coal
carrying companies Several OF the companies.
notably the New-York, Ontario and Western, the
Erie and the Delaware and Hudson, are eager TO
get more collieries The first named is TO double
track that portion of its road not double before
the END of next year. and Will be able TO &C
ccmnnodate a largely Increased trafhc ana as
neither of the three has a big passenger traf-
fic as compared with the Delaware, Lackawan-
ma and Western and the Lehigh Valley, they
can give more attention to freight. Plans
are not bv any means complete for this
gigantic incorporation of the independent col
lieries but it is believed by several of the big
operators that within year it will be we'll un-
der way and that many of the operations Will
then have been bought in.
There are sixty-seven independent operators
and they produce about 1S,OO0.OOo tons year
three-tenths of the total output 1t is estimated
their colleries are worth about sIoVoooooo
one-t third of this being represented IN the Read
ing district, one-sixth in the Scranton, and one
fourth in the Hazleton district.
The plan would be to have the roads tapping
the territory in which the collieries absorb
them At present the independents too in
dependent to have any dealings with the coal
carving companies at a reasonable price, so
the big companies consider but when normal
conditions exist they believe that the absorp
ton can be completed and the entire output
controlled by the coal carriers. This will give
them an opportunity for doing what they have
long wanted-combning for doing away with
the mtddIeman. This would net them saving
OF between 40 and 30 cents on each ton Of coal.
NO MORE CONFERENCES, SAYS MACVEAGH.
wayne MacVeagh. the leading counsel for the
operators before the commission investiga ting
the coal strike. to the city last evening
At the Waldorf Astoria where he spent the night
Mr. Macvea gh said that he was merely in town on
his way to Washington, a trip, as he said,
wholly unconnected with the settlement of the
coal strike. In regard to rumors of settlement of
the strike outside of the commission, he said
There will pe no conference between the coun-
sci of the operators and of the United Mine Work
ers until all the evidence has been taken by the
commission. Then there may be conference In
regard settling any all the points under
be submitted suggestions TO the commission
l believe that the commission will be able to reach
some conclusion satisfactory both to the operators
and to the miners.
3TrjrnDTtT Enp nDS 1C1SCTZ