The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-14
Wage Proposition Miners are
Glad TO Accept.
WHY NOT MADE BEFORE /?
So Questions barrow Who Opens in an Argu-
ment OF Great Force and Beauty for The
Mners---A Seating Ar
raignment.
raignment.
(By the Associated Press.)


in the United States Circuit court room
here, George f. Baer, of the Reading
Company, made his closing argument for
the coal operators before the Strike
row, chief counsel for the miners, be-
gan the summing up for the men.
Mr.. Baer concluded his address by
making n proposition to pay the contract
miners on sliding wage scale, their
wages to fall or rise with the market
price of coal at New York, but that in
no case shall the wages fall below the
present basis
Mr.. barrow spoke at the afternoon ses-
sion and will take up all of tomorrow
in closing the miners case His remarks
today were directed principally at the
wage statements presented to the COM
mission, which. he said, could not be
relied upon.
Mr.. Baer is considered a good speaker
but he preferred to read his carefully
prepared argument. Here and there he
would lay down his manuscript and raise
his voice to high pitch when he wished
to emphasize a strong point. He said
in part:
Many good mon have found fault with
us for not making an agreement with
the United Mine Workers of America.
You will recall that the demand made
upon us was made for a uniform scale of
wages, covering the whole anthracite
field. Who now, will say in the light OF
the testimony that the demand for q
uniform rate of wages extending all over
the anthracite regions was reasonable?
The differcntces in conditions between
the anthracite operations and the bit
luminous operations were clearly pointed
out to these labor leaders.
I'VE met them. as they requested be-
fore the National Federation and discuss
cd the whole situation. At the sugges-
ton of the Civic Federation, a commit
tee of our employees and operators was
appointed to further consider the subject
and report to meeting of the fedora
ton. to be called by its chairman.
when we parted 1t was with the dis
tinct understanding that we should re-
port to the Civic Federation, the result
of our conference. To our amazement
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 Federation
would deal honestly and justly by u.s.
and by their counsel and advice and in
fiuence help to avert the great disaster
which. in all it's uglness, is now before
us. They deserted the cause they had
espoused"
After reviewing the old sliding scale"
wage system, Mr. Baer presented this
roposition:
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, 1909,
all employees. other than contract miners,
shall be paid an additional five per cent
That on and after April /. 1903, for each
five 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
size above pea, wages shall be advanced
one per cent; the wages to rise or fall
one per cent for each five 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 competent ac-
countant. each operator to submit full
statement each month to said accountant
OF all sales of white ash coal. and the
prices realized therefrom f. o. b. New
York"
Mr.. barrow in opening told of the
operators refusal to i've the men more
money, and said:
CAS- q consequence of this act III 900
men lay down their tools of trade and
we have seen 7500 600 men, women and
children reduced to want and starvation
for six long months We have seen the
President OF the United States appoint
commission to settle this difficulty
and then, this afternoon, in the last
hour of the proceeding, the man more
responsible than any other, comes be-
fcrc this commission and says we Will
do exactly that which these men de-
handed nine months before, and which
they in their blindness, their ignorance
and their stupidity refused. Why did not
Mr.. Baer go to Mr. John Mitchell eight
months ago as he came to this commits
sion today?
You can do just as you please about
recognizing the union. If you do not
recognize it, it is because you are blind
and you want to bump up against it
some more: that is all it is here to
stay and the burden is on you and not
upon us. There is neither the power
nor Sie disposition in this court, 4
take II, TO destroy the union. ana III
these agents Of the Almighty cannot see
the union they had better blunder along
still few more years and possibly after
a while they will know it is here and
recognize it themselves
Passing to the wage statements
handed TO the Commission. Mr. barrow
said the operators have been deceived
by their own accountants. and that when
Mr.. Baer informed the President of the
United States and the Commission how
much wages his men were getting, he
gave them information at least thirty
or forty per cent beyond any facts that
really existed.
III. at the end of all this time and
labor, he is willing to give as fye or
ten per cent upon the figures that he
says correctly represent our earnings.
said Mr. barrow, I'VE will be very glad
indeed to take it.
give hundred dollars year is a big
rrice FIR ;tIIing your life and your
limbs in your hand and going down into