The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-31
WORK BEGUN ON THE
WAGE SCALE OF
MINERS
Men Will Apply to Legisla-
lures of Many States to
Compel Better Ventilation
of Mines Mr.. Mitchell
Presents Miners Demands.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Jan. 3O.-The
threat made by the Indiana coal opera
tors to withdraw from the central
competitive district wage agreement
and convention now being held be-
tween the operators of Western Penn
sylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois be-
cause the miners are pressing the
passage of a bill requiring the Indiana
operators to employ shot frerS to do
the blasting in the mines after the
miners are out at night has brought
out the information that the step that
the miners are taking in Indiana will
be taken before the legislatures of
Ohio, Pennsylvania and Illinois. After
laws have been obtained in these four
states the miners will move on the
legislatures in the twenty other min
ing states.
The miners say that this movement
is for the purpose of bringing about
better ventilation In the mines. This
has led the operators to demand that
they fire the shots as rule just be-
fore they leave the mines in the even
ing. The miners say they will not re-
cede from their stand in Indiana.
Joint Committee Meets.
The joint scale committee held its
first session this afternoon. 1t con-
siStS of sixteen miners and sixteen
operators. w. H. Haskins, of Pine
Run, Ohio, was selected permanent
chairman, and G. S. Scroggs, of Illinois,
permanent secretary. Immediately
after the permanent organization was
perfected motion was made that the
scale which was submitted by the
miners at the morning session of the
joint conference be adopted met with
argument that consumed the time of
the convention until adjournment at 5
o'clock. No decision was reached on
any of the points submitted.
AS soon as the joint conference met
this morning, the convention was per-
manently organized by the selection
of George w. Traer, Of Chicago, as
permanent chairman, and w. B. Will
son secretary. The report Of the ere
dentials committee seated 704 dele
gates. President Mitchell submitted
the demands Of the miners. He cited
many reasons the miners had for MAX
ing the demands for an increase of
wages this year. He said that the coun-
try was passing through a period of
unparalleled prosperity, but the min
ers were not receiving their share Of it.
He wanted an adjustment of the diff
ferential between thick and machine
mined coal, and asked that it be fixed
at cents fiat.
What the Miners Ask.
The miners demands, which he read,
are as follows:
Absolute run of mine basis for the
entire competitive field.
A fiat differential of cents per ton
between pick and machine mined coal.
An advance of IL 1-2 cents a ton on
pick and machine.
A 80 per cent 1vane on all inside
day labor, based on the Columbus in
side day scale agreement; uniform
scale for all outside day labor, with
tot
rates.
That drivers and cagers shall be paid
the same as the tracklayers and the
timber men.
Herman JUST, the commissioner for
the Illinois operators, following the
lead of Paul Penna, the Indiana oper-
ator's commissioner, submitted a state
ment setting forth the reasons why the
Illinois operators were not on an
equality with the, other operators of
the district, and that they should not
have to agree to a scale on the same
basis as the other states of the COM
petitfve districts.
Hugh Shirkie, of Clinton, Ind, and
six Of the other Indiana operators that
are under indictment in Chicago, said
today that they would not go to Chi
themselves from the joint wage con-
ference here.
First Stumbling Block.
The committee adjourned after a
half hours session. 1t will report to
the conference tomorrow that no
agreement has been reached. The en-
tire matter will be discussed at the
general session.
The absolute run of mine which is
demanded by the miners is the first
stumbling block in the way of an
agreement. The operators are oppos-
ed to it and will stand firmly against
it. They say that in places where that
system is used the miners are care
cless as to the quality of the coal, and
that the screen system is much pre-
ferable to both operators and miners
Before the Commission