Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-10
AVERT STRIKE
Miners and Operators Agree
in Joint Convention.
GET RAISE IN WAGES
President Mitchell Advises Peace and
Delegates Act in Accordance-Aver-
age Increase of 12Ka. Per Cent Of
fered by Operators Accepted.

indianapolis, Ind, Feb. 9.-With the
ratification of the scale OF wages by
the members of the joint convention
of operators and miners, which pro-
vides for an increase of 1919 per cent
in the pay of the miners, the danger
of strike in the bituminous coal
fields is now over at least for year.
The last offer was made by the oper-
ators and after hours of discussion byI
the miners was finally adopted by al
vote of 56S to 259. and though accept
ed specifically for the states of Illi-
nois, Indiana, Ohio, and western Penn
sylvania, it will doubtless be the basis
of the scales in all states.
To President John Mitchell of thel
Miners Union it is universally con-
ceded that the greatest credit is due
for the settlement of the controversy
He earnestly urged the acceptance
of the operators proposal during thel
debate, saying with great emphasis:
Mitchell's Argument.
'We must accept the scale or see a
general suspension OF bituminouS coal
mining. That is the only alternative.
l for one am not in favor of paralyz-
ing the industries of the country in
the face of the fact that we have been
offered 1215 per cent increase"
After the scale had been signed he
said: "Of course we are getting the
worst of it in way, because we are
not getting all that we rightfully ask
ed, but we are satisfied with the out
come, for the increase is substantial
one"
The operators are almost all bitter
in their comments, saying that the
state of the coal market and unfriend-
ly public opinion forced them to yield,
that the public will have to pay for
the higher wages in the increased
price of coal, and that the miners will
suffer in the end, as soon as hard
times come.
Complicated Scale
The scale, as finally signed, is com
plicated. Only outside day labor re
ceiyes a wage increase directly on
the 1917 per cent bassi. Inside day
labor is given fiat rate, which is for
most kinds of work S2.56 day, equiv
alent to % per cent increase. The reg
ular mining work is paid as usual, by
the ton, and the increases range from
to 10 cents per ton, varying with the
district, the character of the mines
and the grade of coal mined.
The increases In detail, according
to the new scale, are as follows:
Pick mining-Ten cents per ton on
one and one-quarter inch screened
lump coal in western Pennsylvania thin
vein, in the Hooking valley, the basing
district of Ohio, and in both the block
and bituminous districts of Indiana;
6 cents per ton on mine run coal in
the bituminous district Of Indiana and
at Danville, the basing point of Illi-
nois.
Machine mining-Eight cents per
ton on screened lump coal in western
Pennsylvania thin vein, and in the
Hooking, the basing district of Ohio;
10 cents per ton on screened lump coal
in the block and bituminous districts
of Indiana; 6 cents per ton on mine
run coal in the bltuminous districts of
Indiana and at Danyille, the basing
point in Illinois.
Inside day wage scale-Track lay
ers, $2.56; track layers helpers, $2.36;
trapers, $113; bottom cagers, $2.56;
drivers, $2.56; trip riders. $2.56; water
haulers and machine haulers, $2.56;
timbermen, where such are employed,
$z.56; pipe men for compressed air
plants, $3.50; company men, in long
wall mines of third vein district of
northern Illinois, $2.36; all other in
side day labor, $-.36
in Verbal Agreement.
Yardage and dead work are to be
advanced 121s per cent.
In addition to the above the operat.
ors verbally agreed that outside day
labor be increased 1917 per cent in
Ohio, Illinois and Indiana, and that in
the Pittsburg district there shall be
an increase of 121s per cent, except
where prices have been advanced dur
ing the present year.
In those cases sufficient increase
will be granted to bring the amount UP
to 1919 per cent increase, and where
more than 1919 per cent was secured
the wages shall not be reduced. In
the mines of the Monongahela COM
pany the advance shall be straight
one of Is cents a day.
Before the subcommittee would take
any action recommending the report
of the joint convention, the Indiana
miners were induced to agree to the
withdrawal of the shot firing bill,
was special order, before the state
senate today.
Without Legislation.
The operators would not consent tc