The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-05
FULL STATEMENT
OF MINERS CASE
Filed With the Coal Strike
Commission.
OPERATORS HOLD COPIES
They Will Reply in Three or -Four Dlys---The
Miners Submit Four Demands and Sup
port Them With Elaborate
Argum ants.
(By the Associated Press.)


Hazleton, Pa. Nov. 4.--The statement
Of the anthracite miners case, which was
filed with the strike commission on sun
day night, was made public today
Copies of the statement have been fur
nshcd to the operators who will reply
in three or four days. The miners
statement, in full. is as follows:
TO the Anthracite Coal Strike Commits
sion:
The mine workers make of the opera
tors the following demands, which were
formulated by the Shamokin convention,
held March Is to "a. and for the enforce
ment OF which the strike was in
augurated.
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 on account of the
following reasons:
(D The present rate of wages is much
lower than the rate of wages paid in
the bituminous coal fields for substan-
TALLY similar work.
CD The present rate of wages is lower
thar is paid in other occupations re-
curing equal skill and training.
CD The average annual earnings in the
anthracite coal field are much less than
the average annual earnings in the
bituminous coal fields for substantially
similar work.
% The average annual earnings in the
anthracite coal fields are much less than
the average annual earnings for occupa-
tions requiring equal skill and training.
90 The rate of wages in the anthracite
fields is insufficient to compensate the
mine workers in view of the dangerous
character of the occupation in relation
to accidents. the liability to serious and
permanent disease, the high death rate
and the short grade life incident to this
employment.
(6) The annual earnings of the mine
workers are insufficient to maintain the
American standard of living.
"a The increased cost of living has
made it impossible to maintain a fair
standard of life upon the basis of present
wages and has not only prevented the
mine workers from securing any benefit
from increasing prosperity, but has made
their condition poorer on account of it.
tS) The wages of the anthracite mine
workers are so low that their children
are pFernaturely forced into the breakers
and mills instead of being supported and
educated upon the earnings of their
parents.
(9) Wages are below the fair and just
earnings Of mine workers in this in
dustry.
Second-A reduction of 20 per cent in
hours of labor without any reduction of
earnings for all employees paid by the
hour, day or week.
(b) The second demand is similar 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.
In addition thereto we submit the fol-
lowing:
QO) The hour day is detrimental
to the health, life safety and we'll being
Of the mine workers.
iii Shorter hours improve the physi
cal. mental and moral conditions of the
workers.
(12) Shorter hours increase the in
tcnsity and efficiency of labor.
Q3) The tendency of National and
State government of organized trade and
of production generally is toward short
or hours.
gD A working day of eight hours is
sufficiently long for the best interests
of the workingmen and of the COM
munity.
Third.-The adoption of a system by