The Atlanta constitution., 1902-11-17

mines or I'm the iron ore and copper
mines, all of which work is less hazard
Gus, frcer from liability to disease, re-
curing less experience and less skill. and
IS better paid than labor in the anthra-
cite coal fields.
Shorter Hours Demanded.
In supporting the demand for the re-
duction of the hours Of the day laborer
Mr. Mitchell showed that it amounted
practically to demand for % per cent
increase of compensation for $1,000 men,
or % per cent of all mine employees.
The eight hour day is the standa rd
working day in the mining industry.
tLght hours constitute a days work in
me coal mines of Great Britain. in all
the silver, gold and copper mines and in
the bitumlnouS coal mines in the states
Of Arkansas, Kansas. Missouri. Iowa
LIMOS Indiana, Ohio, Michigan. Ken
MIA and the Indian Territory.
me reports of the United States
Geological survey demonstrate that
more coal has been produced
annually since the Inauguration of the
elsht-hour work day than in any pre-
cedlng year Each miner produced more
coal per working day in eight hours than
he formerly produced in ten hours and
there is no reason why the same results
would be not obtained in the anthracite
field The bitumnOus workers receive
in many instances from % To 40 per cent
higher wages for eight hours work than
are paid in the anthracite mines for ten
hours work"
Defending the third demand that coal
shall be weighed and paid for by weight
and that 2.2i0 pounds shall constitute a
ton, Mr.. Mitchell declared that the pres
ent method of measuring the coal pro-
duccd by the miners in the Lackawanna
Wyoming and Lehgh regions has been
the source OF more discomfort than any
other of the many iniustices imposed
upon the miners, and there can be 10
conteutment among the workers until an
honest system has been adopted Pay
ing for coal by the car or by "A ton weigh
ing from 2,740 to 5l90 pounds is a ia
grant injustice. The ears are made
larger. more topping is required and
there is no corresponding increase in the
amount paid per car or n ton. The
miners have been forced to produce a
constantly increasing amount of coal for
which they receive no additional COM
pensati1n. Mr.. Mitchell continued:
The miner should be paid for every
rCuud of coal he mines that is sold by the
ton when coal is sold To the consumer
and when railroad companies are paid for
transporting coal to market. what can
there be in denying the miner the right
To be paid for his labor upon the same
basis?
How Miners Are Docked.
The anthracite companies. not salts
fed with an extra legal ton of from 2,740
tf.l
ing through which they appropriate an
additional part of the miners earnings
\ miner is docked all the way from
500 to LOCO pounds upon ear as pen
atty for loading impurities for which he
has already been penalized to the extent
of from 700 to 800 pounds in excess meas
ure of weight; in other words he is pun
ished twice for the same olfenSe. \ sys-
tenn somewhat similar, but less unjust.
obtained i'm some Of the bitumiEous coal
fields some years ago. where the miners
are now paid by weight upon the basis
of a legal ton; they are not only per-
mitted. but are enc1ura Sed by the op-
orators to employ check weIs.imcu 10
see that the product of their labor is
properly w-ishod and a correct record
made ~ creof.'
Mr. Mitchell then took up the fourth
demand Of the miners for a trade agree
mcnt with the necessary machinery fc"
the adjustment of local grievances. lie
outlined the history and policy of the
United Mine Workers of America.
The only manner he said. in which the
national organization is permitted to in
terfere is that before a strike is inaugu-
rated by the district organization the ap-
proval of the president of the national
union must he obtained; but the presi-