The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-02-13

1t has proved to be just as mischiev.
GUS as we believed it would be.
In addition to the fact that the
miners union was controlled by an
hostile interest, we objected to it be-
cause we cannot delegate to the min
ers' union, or any other labor union
the right to determine who shall be
our employees. The law of Pennsylva-
MIA, and the charter of the Philadel-
phia and Reading Coal and Iron Com
pany, in express terms, give to the
president and directors the power of
appointing all such officers, agents or
employees as they may deem necessary.
We have the right to employ any hon
est man without discrimination as to
religion, nationality or membership in
labor organizations. This is a right we
will not surrender. We do not object
to our employees joining labor organ
1zatlons. This is their privilege. But
we will not agree to turn over the
management of our business to a la
Dor organization because some of our
employees do belong to it.
1.-The record shows that an honest eff
fort was made to convince the United
Mine Workers that their demands
were unjust. Who now will say, in
the light of the testimony, that the
demand for an uniform rate of wages,
extending all over the anthracite re-
gtons, was reasonable? The differences
in conditions between the anthracite
operations and the bituminous opera
tons were clearly pointed out to the
labor leaders.
I've met them, as they requested,
before the National Federation and
discussed the whole situation. At
the suggestion of the Civic Federation.
a committee of our employees and oper-
ators was appointed, to further con-
slider the subject and report to a meet
ing of the federation, to be called by
it's chairman.
Deserted Their Cause.
when we parted, it was with the
distinct understanding that we should
report to the Civic Federation the re-
suit of our conference. To our amaze
ment, the Civic Federation, for reasons
of its own, was never convened to hear
our report. We had a right to expect
that the gentlemen of the Civic FEEDER
alton would deal honestly and justly
by us, and by their counsel, and ad-
vice, and influence, help to avert the
great disaster, which, in all it's ugli-
ness, is now before us. They deserted
the cause they had espoused."
Mr.. Baer gave a comprehensive ac-
count of the difficulties, and expense,
entailed in the production of anthra-
cite coal. Concerning the wages he
expressed the belief that the evidence
on the wage question justified the po-
sition of the operators. Continuing
he said: "First-The testimony clear
ly shows that the wages now paid are
fair wages; that they compare most
fAvorably with the general wages of
the country, and that men willing to
work honestly and exert themselves,
do earn annually, sums in excess of
the average.
"Second-The fact that there is an
excess of labor in the anthracite re-
gions, confirms our theory that the
wages are high, as compared with the
general wage scale of the country, be-
cause everyone knows that labor is at
tracted to the place where wages are~
highest.
'Third-If the wages are again adj
vanced, then, instead of diminishing
the existing excess of workmen, it will
be increased by new workmen coming
to this field. Something has been said
about the operators importing foreign
ers. I never heard of it before. These
foreigners come here because of the
reports made by the men already here
of the improved conditions, and they
will continue to come so long as such
exceptional advantages are offered.
1.-THE demand for an eight-hour day
is only another form of increasing the
cost of production. 1t must be APP
parent to every one that restricting
breaker operators to eight hours per
day must necessarily limit the output
of the colliery, and to that extent must
not only decrease the wage fund pay
able to the miners, but it will de-
crease the supply to the public, and
tend to increase the price of coal.
After reviewing the old sliding
scale wage system, Mr.. Baer present
ed this proposition: THAT the rate
of wages now paid shall be the mini
mum basis for the next three years;
that fom the first of November, 1902,
to the first of April, 1903, all employees.
other than the contract miners, shall
be paid an additional per cent. That
on and after April l, 1903, for each
cents in excess of $3.50 per ton, on
the average price realized for white
ash coal in the harbor of New York,
on all sizes above pea, wages shall
be advanced 1 per cent: the wages to
rise or fall per cent for each cents
increase or decrease in prices; but
they shall never fall during the next
three years below the present basis.
THE average price for each region
to be ascertained by a competent ac-
countant; each operator to submit a
full statement each month to said ac-
countant of all sales of white ash coal.
and the prices realized therefrom, f.
O. b. New York"
sympathy with Labor.
Laying down his address and survey
ing the commissioners. Mr.. Baer said
that in disputes between capital and
labor the general public is largely in
sympathy with labor. 1t is human. he
said, and a good trait in the race, to
sympathize with the weak against the
strong. and therefore, Il can find no
fault with the criticisms. though they
are harsh. that have been made against
US"
President Baer grew sarcastic as he