Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-11-05
Statement Of Their Case as Given to
Strike Commission.
FULL TEXT OF DOCUMENT.
The Workers Reiternte the Demands
Made at the ShamOkin Convene
ton nnd Explain Why
They do So.

ment of the anthracite mine workers
case, which was filed with the strike
commission on Sunday night, has just
been made public. Copies of the state
ment have been furnished to the Oper-
ators, who will reply in three or four
days. The miners statement, signed
by President Mitchell. is as follows:
1.-The mine workers make of the oper-
ators the following demands. which
were formulated by the Shamokin con-
vention held March IS to "a. and for
the enforcement of which the strike
WIS naugurated.
"First.-An increase of 20 per cent
upon the prices paid during the year
| 1901 to employees performing contract
or piece work. This demand is made
OH account of the following reasons:
Il. The present rate of wages is
much lower than the rate of wages
paid in the bituminous coalfields for
substantially similar work.
so. The present rate of wages is
lower than is paid in other occupa-
tons requiring equal skill and train
ing.
y. The average annual earnings in
the anthracite coalfields are much less
than the average annual earnings in
the bitumin0us coalfields for substan-
TALLY similar work.
a. The average annual earnings in
the anthracite coalfields are much less
than the average annual earnings for
occupations requiring equal skill and
training.
%. The rate of wages in the anthra-
cite coalfields is insufficient to com
pensate the mine workers in view OF
the dangerous character of the occupa
ton in relation to accidents, the liabil.
ity to serious and permanent disease,
the high death rate and the short grade
life incident to this employment.
IS. The annual earnings OF the mine
workers are insufficient to maintain
the American standard of living.
81. The increased cost of living has
made it impossible to maintain fail
standard of life upon the basis of
present wages and has not only pre-.
vented the mine workers from securing
any benefit from increased prosperity,
but has made their condition poorer on
account of it.
IS. The wages of the anthracite
mine workers are so low that their
children are prematurely forced into
the breakers and mills instead of being
supported and educated upon the earn
ings of their parents.
20. Wages are below the fair and
just earnings of mine workers in this
vicinity.
The Second Demand.
"Second.-A reduction of 20 per cent
in hours Of labor without any reuuc-
ton of earnings for all employees paid
by the hour day or week. The second
demand is similar to the first in that
it is designed to increase the hourly
rate of wages of mine workers EN-
ployed by the hour. day or week. and
all the reasons applicable to the first
demand are asked to be applied to the
second with repetition. In addition
thereto we submit the following:
10. The ten hour day is detrimental
to the health, life. safety and we'll
being Of the mine workers.
III. Shorter hours improve the phys |
ical, mental and moral conditions of |
the mine workers.
"12 Shorter hours increase the in
tensity and efficiency of labor.
"13. The tendency of national and |
state government of organized trade |
and of production generally is toward |
shorter hours.
IA. A working day of eight hours |
is sufficiently long for the best inter
ests of the workingmen and of the COM |
munity.
Payment by Weight.
"Third.--The adoption of system
by which coal shall be weighed |
and paid fU by weight wherever prac !
ticable: the minimum rate per ton to |
be 60 cents for a legal ton of 2.o4O /
pounds; the differentials now existing
at the various mines to be maintained |
This demand is made on account of the |
following reasons:
81. Measurement by the legal ton
wherever practicable is the only hon |
est and just system of measuring the |
earnings of mine workers.
-. When the operators sell or
transport coal. it is on the basis of Il |
legal ton of 2.24O pounds.
80. The excessive ton was originally
intended to compensate the operator |
for the weight of the small sizes of |
coal which were then discarded, but |
which are now utilized and sold, and
therefore there is no present necessity
for the use of any other than the legal |
ton.
"a. The adoption Of this system
would remove an incentive both to the |
operator and the worker Of cheating
and dishonesty and would allay jeal-
ousy among the miners and prevent |
unjust discrimination and favoritism
IS. The change of the present sys-
tenn to the one asked for would prove |
strong factor in allaying suspicion |