The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-10
WHAT THE COAL COMMISSION MAY
DECIDE.

DECIDE.
AS the anthracite coal commission has
completed its preliminary investigation and
will soon begin to take testimony public in
terest increases as to its probable finding.
The demands of the miners are known, but
the reply of the operators is yet TO be fled
They will probably refuse to grant some of
the demands and will make counter propo-
sitions as to others. AS arbitration always
implies a compromise of conflicting claims
the commission will doubtless try to do
justice to both parties without siding wholly
with either.
Two OF the miners demands as filed by
Mr.. Mitchell are for an increase of 20 per
cent. in the pay of miners performing con-
tract or piece work, and a decrease OF 20
per cent. In hours OF labor without and re-
duction of pay for those paid by the hour,
day or week. These two demands amount to
practically the same thing for two classes
of miners working under different condi-
tions. one by contract or piece work and
the other by time. AS Mr.. Mitchell said in
his statement: THE second demand is SINH
lar to the first in that it is designed to in
crease the hourly rate of wages of mine
workers employed 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" 1t is probable the
commission will grant both of these de-
mands on a compromise basis of 10 per cent.
instead Of 20. The miners could not COM
plain of such an award, because after the
20 per cent. demands were rejected by the
operators they scaled down both demands
10 per cent. They are, therefore, on record
as willing to accept 10 per cent. increase
of pay on contract work and 10 per cent. re-
duction In hours Of labor for day labor
ers If they cannot do better. Bituminous
miners work only eight hours, and If an
eight-hour day should prevail anywhere it
should be for underground miners. The 10
per cent. increase in wages would add sew
eral millions of dollars to the expenses of
the operators, but some of them had Of
fered to pay it before the strike began,
provided, however. that they would only
negotiate with their own employees. AS
recognition OF the union is one of Mr..
Mitchell's most insistent demands the offer
Of the operators in that form was not ac-
ceptable. II the commission decides on
10 per cent. increase of pay and reduction
Of hours the operators will have to accept
the award. but they will probably do so un-
der protest.
Mr.. Mitchell's demand that the miners
be paid by the weight of coal mined instead
Of by measurement seems to be just and
reasonable. AS the operators transport and
sell coal on the basis of a legal ton of 2.24O
pounds they should be willing to pay for
mining it on that basis. Mr.. Mitchell said
in his statement: 1.-THE adoption of the
weighing system would remove an incen-
tive. both to the operator and the MINER to
cheating and dishonesty. and would allay
jealousy among the miners and prevent
unjust discrimination and favoritism."
Commissioner of Labor Wright said in his
report to the President during the strike:
The demand of the miners union that
where miners are paid by weight 2, 240
pounds shall constitute the ton represents
an old, long-standing difficulty. The min
ers see little or no difficulty in adopting the
system of payment by weight. They claim,
everywhere, and almost without exception
that they are systematically defrauded by
the arbitrary action OF the boSseS-the men
who determine how much deduction shall be
made for impurities-and they especially
complain that they are defrauded when paid
by the wagon or carload. One manager
stated during the recent investigation that
there Is no end to the abuses of payment
by the car. The testimony OF fOremen and
managers is to the effect that these abuses
should be done away with.
Colonel Wright stated the operators side
of this question, showing that there were
two sides to it, but he concluded: 1.-The
powder question has been settled, and there
ought to be genius enough to settle the
weighing question" The commissioners
will probably grant the miners demand on
this point.
The following was not in the original de-
mands Of the miners before the strike be-
gan, but is included in Mr. Mitchells state
ment filed with the commission:
Fourth-The incorporation in an agree
ment between the United Mine Workers
of America and the anthracite coal COM
panies of the wages which shall be paid
and the conditions of employment which
shall obtain, together with satisfactory
methods for the adjustment of grievances
which may arise from time to time to the
end that strikes and lockouts may be I'M
necessary.
This is Mr.. Mitchell's plan for securing
recognition for the United Mine Workers
Union, in which he probably feels more in
terest than in any other one point. The
operators will fight 1t bitterly and will give
the commission to understand that they
are unalterably opposed to 1t. They have
said repeatedly that they are not opposed
to labor unions in themselves and are will
ing TO discuss grievances with committees
of their own employees. but not with the
officers OF a union which embraces bitumi-
nous miners and whose officers are nom
residents of the State and as they con-
tend, not acquainted with conditions In the
anthracite field. Under the laws of Penn
sylvania a bituminous coal miner cannot
be employed in the anthracite field. no mat
ter what his skill. Mr.. Mitchell himself,
though he has had long experience as a
bituminous coal miner, could not get GER
tificate that would entitle him TO work in
an anthracite mine. His demand that the
rate of wages and conditions of labor be
| Incorporated I'm an agreement between the
United Mine Workers and the anthracite
coal operators will not be at all accepta-
| bic TO the latter. IL is by no means un-