Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-12


nois, the nearest competing state.
However, the miners demand raise
which they say is based on test
made at Cincinnati, in the same dis
trict as Putnam county, and which,
in their Judgment, entitled them to
a price of SO $40 cents. They made
motion to this effect and the whole
question of mining in that district
was argued for an hour or more. Fin
ally vote was taken and all the min
ers voted for the big raise, all of the
operators casting their ballots against
it.
The operators then offered motion
to make the price either 1891 cents or
six cents higher than the price which
would be shown by test at the mines
in Putnam county, based upon a price
of 95 cents per ton for lump coal. This
motion was voted down by the miners.
Lump Coal Price.
The question of the price to be paid
in the first district, including the
southern tier of counties in Iowa, and
the northern tier in Missouri. was talk
en- up for discussion, and if possible
for settlement. The miners started
the ball rolling by asking for price
of S110. They based their claim upon
the fact that, when the Iowa miners
secured the eight hour day, some years
ago, the first district miners submit
ted to reduction of five cents per
ton on screened coal. They ask for
this five cents back and the additional
raise Of ten cents secured on this
class of coal in Illinois. The oper-
ators, while they are willing to give
the ten cents increase, saying that
they cannot help but do so, say they
will not submit to bigger one. The
discussion en- this matter was q long
one, the miners standing for their price
of $1.10 instead of the present price
of 95 cents, and the operators offering
$105 but objecting to a bigger raise.
The history of the joint movement
was discussed long and thoroughly,
during the arguments over this matter,
but the operators would not be CON
WINGED that the miners were entitled
to the raise of fifteen cents, while the
miners were unwilling to admit that
they could, in justice to themselves,
take less.
The Situation.
The miners claim that the condition
of the market this year, as a result of
the anthracite strike in the east, is
so much in favor of the Iowa coal OPP
orators, that unless raise in the price
of coal is secured now, that is, what
the workmen consider just, they can
not expect to gain in future confer
ences. The operators on the other
hand, while admitting that they have
been able to sell their coal more easily
this year than last, say they cannot
depend upon these conditions to exist
long, possibly not through the year,
and one Of them said yesterday that al
though they are wiling and ready to
give fiat advance of six cents, upon
the price of mine run coal, and ten on
the price of coal that is screened they
will not give bigger increases and can
not afford to do so.
Must Settle First District.
During the discussion OF those cues
| tons, Delegate McMahon OF Center
vile OF the miners committee, secured
| the passage OF a motion that no Other
parts OF the scale be considered unit
\ the prices on mine run and screened
| lump coal are settled, in the first dis
4 trict. This means that the miners want
basing point established in that dis
/ trict, something they say they have
been unable to secure in former con
ventions for the fact that the first dis
trict has been left until the last to be
/ settled and has been thus forced into
taking a scale based simply upon the
scales of the other districts.
Still in District.
This year, contrary to last years ex
pectations. the miners and operators
of the district have to deal with the in
terests of those engaged in mining il
Putnam county, Mo. Last spring it was
decided that this part of district IS; OIL
really all of the northern tier of the
counties in Missouri, of which only
Putnam county has coal mines, should
be given to the Missouri district, No
25 In accordance with this decision
representatives of the operators ane
mines of that county, attended The
convention of the district which wa:
held In Kansas City. but after some
weeks of argument and many attempts
to get into the Missouri district, the,
:, had to return home without success!
and consequently are still in the low;
district w Fl Powell