The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-12

questions at issue be submitted to a
committee of FIVE Of the Industrial bu-
reau of the federation.
With regard to this, President a
said:
Human ingenuity could not devise a
proposition more unfair. It proposes an
arbitration board to be selected by the
industrial branc Of the national civic
federation The industrial branch of
that federation is composed of the lead
ing b leaders of the country. There
is not a single representative of the an
thracite mine owners on It. The same
industrial branch had utterly failed in
the conferences We already had had
with it."
Mr.. Baer gave a comprehensive ac-
count of the difficulties and expense en-
tailed in the production of anthracite.
Concerning the wage he expressed the
belief that the evidence on the wage
question justihes the position of the or
orators.
Continuing he said:
1.-THE testimony clearly shows that
the wages now paid are fair, that they
compare most favorably with the gen.
eraI wages of the country and that men
willing to work honestly and exert
themselves 90 earn annually sums in
excess of the average.
"2-The fact that there is an excess
of labor in the anthracite regions con-
firms our theory that the wages are al
ready high as compared with the gem
eral wage scale of the country because
every one knows that labor is attracted
to the place where wages are highest
"3-If the wages are again advanced.
then instead of diminishing the existing
excess of workmen. it VIII be increased
by new workmen coming to this field.
Something has been said about the op-
orators importing foreigners. I never
heard of it. 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 advances are Of
fered.
The demand for an eight hour day is
only another form of increasing the cost
of production. It must be apparent to
every one that restricting breaker oper-
atoms to eight hours a Gay must neces-
sarily limit the outaut of the colliery
and to that extent must not only de-
crease the wag fund payable to the
miners but it viii decrease the supply
to the public and tend to increase the
price of coal
OFFERS A PROPOSITION.
After reviewing the old sliding scale
wage system Mr.. Baer presented this
proposition:
That the rate of wages now paid
shall be the minimum basis for the next
three years; that from the first of No
vember, 1902, to the first Of April, 1903
all employees, other than contract miners
shall be paid an additional 3 per cent
That on and after April 1, 1908. for each
5 cents in excess of $3.50 FER ton on the
average price realized for white ash
coal IN the harbor Of New York, on all
sizes above pea. wages shall be advanc-
ed l per cent; the wages to rise or fan ]
per cent for each 5 cents increase or de-
crease 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 recount
ant. to be appointed by Judge Gray,
: ny in "a = e.
for any reason Judge Gray can not act
then by one of the United States cir
cult judges holding court IN Ph1ladel-
phia. The COMPENSATION of the ac~
countant to be fixed by the judge maxi
ing the appointment and to be paid by
the operators in proportion to the ton
mage at each mine each operator 10
submit a full statement each month to
said accountant of all sales of white
ash coal: and the prices realized there
from f. o. b. New York, with the right
of the to have access to the
books to verify the statement"
When Mr.. Raer reached that part OF
his address where he referred to the
calling out of the steam men, LAWYER
barrow Interrupted to correct him. Mr..
Baer answered in a sentence and then
Continued his remarks. Then laying
down his address and surveying the
commission Mr.. Baer said that in dis
putes 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 symoathize
with the weak against the strong. and
therefore 7 can find no fault with the
criticisms, though they are harsh. that
have been made against us"
BOASTS CIVIC FEDERATION
President Baer grew sarcastic as he
told in detail of the negotiations before
the Civic Federation. The operators
pOcketed their pride. he said. and met
in a church building where were present
some DISTINGUISHED men. Some were
bishops and some were dressed like
bishops" He pictured the members OF
the federation sitting around putting
good cigars and not aying a word,
while he and Mr.. Mitchell tried to get
together. Speaking slowly and DELHI
erately, he arraigned the federation for
not giving the operators and the miners
representatives the small courtesy Of
hearing the report Of the committee ap-
pointed by these two sides. nor did it
have the manly courage" to further
help the parties in contest.
In the same sarcastic vein he paid
respects to Henry Denarest LLOYD. Of
Chicago, who delivered an argument be-
fore the commission in favor of trade
agreements
After Mr.. Baer had been speaking for