Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-03-20

Fleming of Des Moines and L. l.. LODI
wick, of Ottumwa, both operators, stat
ed the case, saying that the miners
organization Is represented continually
by two field men while the operators
association has no one in the field.
Consequently the operators commit
tee cannot be sure on any question
without first consulting all of the op
orators.
Mr.. Fleming tried to solve the whole
question quickly by moving that the
whole scale that was unsettled at the
time be settled on the same basis as
the Ottumwa agreement provided, but
this was promptly voted down by the
miners.
Reese Scores Operators.
1t was then that the miners pa
tience overstepped its bounds. Presi-
dent Reese, after consulting each of
the members of the miners scale COM
mittee, took the floor and addressed
the committee about as follows: This
committee has made record of which
lit should be ashamed and l. as one
member, am heartily ashamed of the
progress we have made. l think that
the time has come when, if we cannot
get together quickly we had better adj
journ this meeting now and report to
the joint convention tomorrow morn
ing that we cannot do the work which
was assigned us: namely, the making
of a scale for the coming year. There
are questions which will cause trou-
BILE and | think we should get at them
as quickly as possible without stop
nj al Il, .xl>
airy when compared to the questions
of shot firers and a uniform inside day
wage scale. We will not leave the
night watchmen's scale as it is. for
there are night watchmen in the dis
trict now who are working seven days
a week, long hours, for poor wages,
and this is contrary to the spirit and
the letter of last years agreement
made at Ottumwa. l move you, Mr..
Chairman, that the whole question of
scale, with the exception of shot fir
ers and a uniform inside day wage
scale be referred to a committee of
five from each side, with the proviso
that others can be called in when
necessary, but that no one may attend
the meetings unless called into them"
| The operators were opposed to this
motion for the same reason as before
set forth, that the miners know the
conditions better than do the operat-
ors. Finally, after hot discussion, H.
| L. Waterman of Ottumwa, secured the
passage of motion to adjourn the
scale committee until today for the
purpose of allowing the operators to
caucus.
Slight Progress Made.
Yesterday but little progress was
made by the scale committee Most
of the time was taken up in fixing a
scale for mines and owners of which
do not belong to the operators asso-
citation. Among these are the ones at
Angus. in the northern field, for
which scale was arranged which is
much similar to that of the fourth
sub-district. The only work affecting
the southern half of the state was that
with regard to Newmarket in Tay.
lor county. The mines here were
placed in the first sub-district. The
price for screened lump was placed
at $1.25 the year around.
For brushing in the entries the min
ers are to receive rs cents per yard
and other conditions are to remain un
changed.
Twelve.Foot Entries.
The miners We're victorious in theil
fight for the price of SI7O for twelve
foot entry driving in the second sub
district, or the Ottumwa field. Thi.
/ question is one which was argued a
length last week, and yesterday, in the
absence of some of the operators af
fected. the $1.70 price was incorporat
ed into the agreement However
Henry Phillips and other operators tel
Iephoned from Ottumwa and elsewher,
and secured a re-hearing in the matter
and it remains unsettled as yet.
4 Another matter which caused consid
cradle trouble yesterday, but which
was settled in the evening session
without the least trouble, was that re
gardinS the percentage of mine rul
and screened coal at which the mine
could be changed from one basis to an
other in the second district The min
ers won their point in this and secure,
the following agreement:
ANY mine on the mine run basi
shall be permitted to return to tn
screened coal basis whenever sal
, mine shall by actual test show over 6
} per cent lump, and when by weeks
test the coal on a lump basis show
over 35 per cent screenings the min
can return to the mine run basis.
r Before the Committee.
: The house committee on mines an
mining. of which Nate Kendall, of A
bia. is chairman and A. W. Buchanan
of Ottumwa, a member. held war;
session at the capitol yesterday afte
noon. The time was spent in listenin
: to discussion of the shot firer que.
? ton by miners and operators VIII
d had been asked by the committee t
, present their respective sides of tn
e case. No decision was reached, an
a another session was set for this afte
J. noon. w. H. Powell
;, REBELS GAIN VICTORIES.
IS fo L;