The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-14
THE ANTHRACITE COAL COURT.

The issues between the anthracite coal
miners and operators are now made up
and the work of the commission is cut out
for 1t. Its task will be difficult and eompIi-
Gated. If 1t succeeds in reaching con-
clusions satisfactory to itself they are
sure to be unsatisfactory TO one or both
of the contending parties Some of the
points of difference between them appear
TO be irreconcilable 1t Is difficult TO see
how the commission can make any finding
on the union question that will be accepted
by both parties. The United Mine Work
ers demand that only union men shall be
employed, while the operators absolutely
refuse TO admit the demand. The statement
filed by Mr.. Mitchell makes recognition
of the union paramount issue. The state
ments filed by six of the operators say
this is impossible. One of them says:
This company unequivocally asserts that
ter into any agreement with the aSsocia-
ton known as the United Mine Workers of
America or any branch thereof. Nor will
II permit said association its officers
TO dictate the terms and conditions under
which it shall conduct its business.
All OF the operators take practically
the same ground. They may even contend
that this question is not before the COM
mission. In the document filed by the
operators which served as the basis of
the appointment of the commission they
said:
The coal companies are not willing to
make any arrangement which will not Sc
cure to the men now working. and all now
they belong TO the Mine Workers Union
or not. the right and opportunity TO work
in safety and without personal insult or
bodily harm 10 themselves or their fam
lilies.
The presidents of the companies desire
TO make every effort which does not involve
the abandonment of the men who are work.
ing ana seeking 10 work in their mines.
They insist that the miners union shall
not discriminate against nonunion men.
They may contend that under this stipu-
lation they not obliged to accept any
quire them to recognize the union as it
now exists.
The contention regarding wages and
hours seems almost as irreconcilable as
that concerning the union. The operators
are a unit in declaring that horizontal
increase of 20 per cent. in wages and re-
duction of 20 per cent. in hours of labor
would be absolutely ruinous to them. In
the face of their statements and the evil
dence they will introduce on the subject
it is not likely the commission will award
more than a small part of the increase of
wages demanded. Commissioner of Labor
Wright discussed the question in his re-
port to the President during the strike
but did not seem to be able to reach any
conclusion. After stating the demand of
the miners and showing what the different
classes of workmen earned, he said:
The operators meet this demand flor
70 per cent. increase of wages and re-
duction of hoursl with a statement that
they are able to market only about so per
cent. of the capacity of their mines: that
throughout the whole year without ref
erence to the amount of coal that can be
marketed; that much of the machinery
the pumping and the care of the mines
go on for twenty-four hours each day: that
the general superintendent and the men
who paid by the month must all be
maintained; that an increase of 20 per
cent. in wages would mean about As cents
ton increase. to which must be added the
increased cost by reduction of output.
while the general expenses are all going
3,
making the total addition per ton about
60 cents. The total amount of wages paid
in the anthracite fields last year was about
SGT, 900 900.
Commissioner Wright left the impression
that the question of an increase of wages
had two sides to it, and that he was un-
able to decide I'm favor of either The
commission may possibly find some equit-
able compromise. The array of legal talent
on both sides is about as strong as ever
appeared in any court in the country, and
the commission will have abundant use
Gray, who is a member