The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-08-11
Operators Reply at Length to
 the Mine Workers
PROPOSE 4 SLIDING SCALE
They Want to Fix the Minimum at 37Ls Gents and Maximum at 55 Gents Ton-Local Con-
 dltons Reviewed.

A reply of the coal operators to the de- mands of the miners and a statement of the demands of the operators were sub mitted to the arbitration board yester- day afternoon as follows:
 For many years in the Birmingham district it has been the custom of the coal operators and miners through their representatives to meet during the month of June In each year for the pur- pose of agreeing upon the scale of wages and terms of employment for the ensuing year comencing July 1. In conformity to this custom. on June % the coal oper- ators of the Birmingham district and | representatives of the United Mine Workers, District No. 20, met in joint convention in the city of Birmingham for the purpose of formulating a new contract in lieu of the one expiring June 30. At this convention and in the con- ferences which followed statements were made by each side of certain changes and additional provisions desired in the old contract. In joint convention and through committees. efforts were made to reach a agreement.
 On July l. no agreement having been reached, work at all mines involved was abandoned under orders from the offi- cials of the miners organization. Nego- tiations were continued in the effort to agree upon a new contract until July, when these efforts proving fruitless it was agreed that the scale of wages and terms of contract should be submitted to arbitration; the arbitration agreement being In writing and as follows:
 Agreement Quoted.
 we will submit to arbitrate the ques- tion as to what scale of wages and terms of contract at the coal mines in question shall be commencing July l. 1903.
 "The arbitration commission shall be composed of two arbitrators selected by the miners organization; two arbitrators selected by the operators organization, and these four shall by majority agree ment, select the fifth arbitrator.
 'As soon as the fifth arbitrator shall have been selected and accepts. the min | CTS shall resume work.
 Pending the decision of the arbitra- ton commission wages shall be paid on the scale prevailing during the year end- ing July 1, 1903; such wages to be ad- l justed upon the reward of the commission by the operators paying the difference, if | an increase, or cndfBlnB the men Wltn Ine difference if there be a decrease In the scale of wages.
 A majority of the arbltrators shall de- eide on the award
 1 In handing down the award the com mission shall render a statement of their expense, including their own compensa- ton, and these expenses shall be paid one-half by the operators organization and one-half by the United Mine Work | CTS organization.
 In the event either of the two arbitra- tors selected by either of the respective sides should be unable for any reason or at any time to act, the side selecting him shall have the right to select some one in his place.
 It Is suggestive of serious consideration that this arbitration agreement, which was by the terms of the miners accept ance restricted to an award defining the scale of wages and terms of contract un- til July 1, 1904, was only reached after a stoppage for one month. inhicting q serious loss upon both employers and | employees.
 Miners Demands Stated.
 The demands of the miners are as foi- lows:
 l. An increase of cents per ton iu. the maximum and minimum price for | mining coal, with a corresponding. in- crease to day laborers and in yardage.
 2. That eight hours shall constitute a | days work for all employees. 8. That there shall be semi-monthly l pay days.
 l We submit that the demands made by the miners are unreasonable and unjust and that the grounds stated therefor by ] the miners are untrue.
 Answering said demands in detail we would say:
 Basis of Discussion. 1 l. The contract just expired will doubt | less be the basis for discussion before the board of arbitration such alterations therein and additions thereto being made as justice and equity between the parties l would seem to require. The contract | which expired June 30 1908 was made when the country was enjoying the fruits of unparalleled prosperity with a raven ous demand at excellent prices for iron and coal. Under the sliding scale of wages then agreed upon the miners in | the Birmingham district have for the past year received continuously the maxi | mum of wages. We assert that the wages | paid on the 55 cent maximum basis have afforded full and even liberal compensa-
 (continued on Sixth Page).