Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-11-15
HEARING BEGINS.
CONTINUED from page ~

workers until an honest system mas
been adopted. Paying for coal by the
car or ton weighing from 214o to
1850 pounds is a fiagrant injustice. me
cars have been made larger. more top
! ping is required and there has been
no corresponding increase in the pay
per car or per ton. The miners havebeen
forced to produce a constantly IN
| creasing amount of coal for wnich they
receive no compensation.
| The miners should be paid for every
pound of coal he mines that Is sold by
| the operator, TO the consumer, AT --fo
pounds to the ton. AS the falirodu
/ companies are paid for transporting
; coal TO market on this scale, what JUS
/ ticc can there be in depriving the MN
| er on his returns upon the same basis
| Mr.. Mitchell then took up the fourth
J demand of the miners Tor trade
| agreement with the necessary machIn-
! cry for the adjustment of local grew
| ances. He outlined the history and
policy of the United Mine Workers and
explained that by its constitution the
anthracite and bituminous mine work
ers had some rule for the local COVER
ment of local affairs.
."The only manner he said. lin
which the national organization is per-
mittetl to interfere is that before a
strike is inaugurated by the district or
Eaniz2 tion the approval of the National
Union mist be obtained: but the prCsi
dent of the ma tiOnal organization, has
no authority to inaugurate strike.
Thus the coal mine operators are af-
fordrd . greater measure of protection
against strikes than they would have
under separate and independent or
BaniIation."
The anthracite companies not salts
fled with legal ton of from 2740 To
$3.50 pounds have system of docking
through which they obtain an addi-
tional part of the miners wages.
miner is locked all the way from 500
to 1900 pounds upon a car as "A penalty
for loading impurities for which he has
already been penaiZed in excess of inn
pure weight In other words he is pun
ished twice for the same Offence.
"A system somewhat similar but less
unjust, obtained in Il portion of the
rituminous coal field many years ago,
but the miners are now paid by weight
not only permitted but arc encouraged
by the operator to employ check weight
men to see that the product of their
Labor is properly weighed and a record
made thereof"
As to the responsibility of the orSari-
zat,on Nj. Mitchell said:
AT the present time the organization
has contracts with operators Of III
states and districts fixing the amounts
the miners shall receive per day, the
number Of hours which shall constitute
days work, ard the methods and
machinery for the adjustment of local
grievances by joint conference with the
mine owners. These are mutual con-
tracts which arc advantageous to both
miner and operator and protect thc
public against The effects of strikes or
lockouts. The reports Of the Unit ID
States government on strikes in the
mining districts has been materially
reduced each year since the system Of
joint conference and mutual agreement
has been introduced.
where the United Mine Workers OF
Amcrica is recognized and contracted
with, it assumes the responsibility Of
disciptinS its members. The trade
agreement has proved effective in re-
straining working from engaging in 10
cal or general strikes. There have been
no strikes of any magnitude in any OF
the coal mining states in which trade
agreements exist. We seek to establish
the same method of adjusting wage
difficulties in the anthracite field.
"ThcE it is said that the competition
between anthracite and bitumnous
coal L. 4 reason upon which the anth-
rdcitc operators; refuse recognition Of
the miners. That this objection Is
neither valid nor consistent IS cIcarl !
demonstrated ny the fact that many
Of tho railroads Differed by tho sam"
men who control the anthracite coal
mines enter into trade agreements with
railroad organizations, "a majority of
whose members are employed on other
competing roads.
I'VE desire recognition because v"
know permanent peace can be best
maintained through a trade agreement
with the organization which our people
have elected to join. Fully 30 per cent.
Of III" employees of the anthracite coal
mines are members of It from choice;
they desire to retain their membership
in II. 1t was the United Mine Workers
of America that conferred with the
President of the United States in reia
ton to the submission of the issues in
VOWED in the coal strike to this com
mission. IL was the United Mine
Workers of America that was required
by the President to end the strike; it
was tine United Mine Workers that de-
rlared the strike at an end; it was the
United Mine Workers OF America that
sent the mon back to work, and it is
the United Mine Workers that is pledg-
"a to accept the award of this commits
cipn -