Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1902-11-12
MOLINEUX IS
AT LIBERTY.

Tirst-That 1t owns 81 collieries
situate in the counties Of Schuylkiu,
Northumberland and Columbia, and
that it did operate, previous to the
strike inaugurated by the United
Mine Workers Of America, SO col
liaries and four washeries, and that
at that time it had 26,S29 employees
in and about the mines.
Seccnd-The first demand for 20
per cent increase upon the price paid
during the year 1901 to employees per-
forming contract or piece work is ar
bitrary, unreasonable and unjust.
Third-This company denies that
the present rate OF wages is lower
than is paid in other occupations in
the same locality and controlled by
like conditions.
Fourth-This company denies that
the average annual earnings OF the
men working full time in the anthra-
cite coal field is less than the aver
age annual earnings for occupations
requiring equal skill and training.
Fifth-This company denies that
"the rate of wages in the anthracite
coal fields is insufficient to comPen'
safe the mine workers in view of the
dangerous character Of the occupa-
ton in relation to accidents, liability
to serious and permanent disease, the
high death rate and short trade life
incident to this employment"
SiXth-This company AYERS that the
sixth specification is too general and
vague for specific answer thereto.
Seventh-This company denies that
the second demand for a reduction
OF 20 per cent in hours Of labor, with
out any reduction Of earnings for all
employees by the hour, day or week,
is either just or equitable, and AYERS
that the reasons assigned in support
IF the demand are impracticable, in
so far as they relate to the mining OF
anthracite coal The certified miners,
| under present conditions, seldom
work eight hours day. The greater
cost in the production and prepare
tiCn Of anthracite coal for market is
net the cutting CT the coal. Many
employees are paid By the month, the
pumping continues day and night, the
machinery is expensive, and the cost
Of coal is largely conditioned on the
coliieries running full time. The out
put is entirely dependent on the
quantity Of coal certified miner IS
willing to cut daily, and because CT
this it is seldom practicable to work
| the full breaker time.
Eighth-This company, replying to
the third demand, says that It has
had no disagreements with any CT its
employees about the Weighing OF coal.
The quantity is usually determined
by measurement; that wien coal is
mined by the ton 1t is customary and
necessary to make allowances for
slate and impurities. But this COM
pany does not mine by the ton. 1t
denies that there Is anything un-
reasonable or unfair IN the method
it has practiced in arriving at the
measurement Of coal from its mines.
Ninth-This company, replying to
the fourth demand, says: That the
United Mine Workers Of America are
primarily a bituminous coal organi-
zation; that bituminous coal is a rival
competitor in the market with anthra-
cite coal; that ever since the advent
Of the United Mine Workers OF Amer
lea in the anthracite field the bnsi-
ness conditions in the anthracite
coal mines have become intolerable;
the output Of the mines has de-
creased, discipline has been de-
5troyed, strikes have been Of almost
daily occurrence; men worked When
and as they pleased; the cost Of min
ing has been greatly increased.
And. further answering, the COM
pany says that it does not and will
not discriminate against workmen
belonging to the United Mine Work
ers CT America, or any other labor
organization, so long as they perform
satisfactory work and behave as law
abiding people should, but that the
company will at all times employ any
person 1t sees fit, and will not permit
any labor organization to limit the
right cf employment to the members
CT its organization.