Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-10
Coal Operators Elect Him Com
missioners to Settle Griey-
ances With Miners
MEETING OF MINE OWNERS HELD
The Question of Naming a Commits
sioner to Deal with the Mine Work
ers in All Disputes Disposed of, and
John p. Reese Elected to the Posi-
ton at Salary of $4,000.

| Des Moines, Dec. 10.--A meeting OF
the Iowa Coal Operators Association
was held in I. O. o. r. hall yesterday
/ to prepare for the joint conference in
Des Moines in March between opera
| tors and United Mine Workers.
| Practically every considerable mining
| company in the state and in the north
ern Missouri or Minnesota field was
| represented. Officers were elected for
!! the ensuing year. John p. Reese, late
president Of the Mine Workers, for Dis
trict Thirteen, the Iowa field, was
elected commissioner TO represent the
operators in questions of dispute be-
tween them and the miners, and scale
committee was selected to meet with
the miners and arrange scale.
The probable result of the scale con-
ference, which in all likelihood will con-
yene about March 10. was also talked
over, in an informal way In the meet
ing of the association but little refer
ence was made to it. but in the hotel
Hobbies the operators discussed the
probable demands at considerable
length.
The election of officers was taken up
first and disposed of without conflict.
The following were elected for the en-
suing year:
Charles Morris. Des Moines, presi-
dent: l.. r. Rosebrook, Oskaloosa, vice
Ottumwa, secretary; w. L. Phillips,
Oskaioosa, treasurer.
The executive committee is composed
of the president and secretary and the
following district members: First dis
trict, Alex Dargayle, Centerville; Sec
end district, III. L. Watrouse, Ottumwa;
Third district, Sumner w. White, Os-
kaloosa; Fourth district, E. c.. Smith,
Des Moines; Fifth district, I'll. H. Can
field Boone.
The president, secretary and the ex-
ecutive committee are ex-officio menu
bers of the scale committee. The other
members of the scale committee, each
district being entitled to two members,
are: First district, David Lodwick.
Mystic: Second district. Faley Hynes,
Hynes; Third district, w. Z. Phillips,
Oskaloosa: Fourth district, Ed Gray,
Des Moines; Fifth district, F.. e. Will
son, Lehigh and Webster City. B. FL!
Johnston, of Mendoza, Mo-, is also a
member of the scale committee to rep
resent the Missouri field.
On motion the question of the cleo
ton of a commissioner was taken up. A
wear ago the association adopted a
resolution empowering the executive
board to engage a commissioner and re-
port to the operators at the joint meet
ing 1t was resolved that the commits
sioner should receive salary not to
exceed $4,000 year and that he should
exceed $4,000 a year and that he should,
under the direction of the executive
board, meet with the representatives OF
the mine workers to consider and settle
all differences arising between opera
tors and miners in the Interpretation OF
the Joint scale agreement. 1t was the
theory that the commissioner could dis
pose of practically all questions arising
and that he would save the association
a great deal of expense occasioned by
the necessity of converting the entire
executive committee whenever there
was trouble between operators and
miners.
The executive committee could not
agree upon the selection of a commits
sloner State Mine Inspector White I
and John p. Reese, then president OF
the Mine Workers, were suggested, put
no choice was made.
Yesterday the name of MI. Reese was
presented and he was elected almost
without opposition. 1t is understood
he is to receive salary OF S2,uOo year.
Mr.. Reese will be a member eX-ofnclo
of the operators scale committee, but
will not have vote in the proceedings.
rJis duties as a member of this COM
mittee will be advisory. The probabili-
lies are he will make his headquarters
in Des Moines.
The operators are expecting to meet
with a demand for an increase IN the
price paid to miners at the JOIN CONFER
ance in March. During the past lew
many operators, to keep miners
st work and to secure a fuil compile
nent for their mines, have jumped the
scale and have been quietly paying as
high as STA ton for coal, whereas the
HIGHEST scale price is 30 cents. Inc
,perators yesterday We're OF the opln-
ion the miners will be quick to seize
mon this voluntary advance as an eN-
.usa for enforcing an increase IN the
scale.
The operators will also insist at the
Joint conference upon some chanse III
the scale by which they can enforce an
aipht-hour day in the mines. Whiie the
miners are supposed under the scale to
work eight hours, they are not avefag-
ing to exceed six hours a day ana that
fhey are losing time, taking OF holl-
days, etc. |
DEATH AT ALTOONA