The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-04-23
10 END NINE DISPUTES
Union Leaders Meet at Wilkesbarre
toName Cancellation Committee.
PRESIDENT MITCHELL PReslDEs
Principal Grievances Are over the
Nine-hour WorKday and Appoint.
nent of Check Weighman-Serious
Trouble in SchuylkiIi Region.

Wilkesbarre. Pa. April p. The
scenes of the great coal strike OF last
summer and fall were recalled az Hotel
Hart where the leaders oil the Mine
Workers Union gathered to discuss the
features of the recent award and - ap-
point a committee on Cancellation
which was provided for by the coal
commission TO settle any dispute that
might arise in the Interpretation CT its
findings.
Nearly all the mine workers who
were prominent in the miners move
ment since 1900 were present. but as
District President r. ID. Nichols ex-
pressed it we are gathering for peace
this time not fol. war" The members
of the three executive boards arrived
here during the day. President Mitchell
being the last to reach here.
This is the first meeting of Mr.
Mitchell and the three district boards
of the anthracite coal fields since the
end of the strike and from the pres
ent outlook there will be considerable
business TO be disposed of. principally
in the adjustment of grievances which
vary in each of the three districts. In
the Wyoming distsrict the dispute is
over the Interpretation Of the nire-hour
work day as regards the drivers and
other company hands. and when the
work hours should begin. The com
panies hold that the drivers must be in
the mine aud have the mules harnessed
so the miners can commence work at
Z o'clock a. m, work TO begin at that
hours should begin with their duties
in Harvesting the animalss. and not
half hour before the miners start to
work.
President Dettery. OF District No. 2.
says: The companies persist in vio-
lating this section OF the award and
make the company hands work from
gig to 10 hours for 9 hours pay We
have no trouble" he said. lin any OF
the other points in the commissions
award except with the one which gives
us permission to place check weiehmen
at the collieries. The companies. par
ticularly Coke Bros. claim we have
not the right. We referred the officials
to a section of the award which reads
as follows:
That whenever requested by ma
jority of contract miners of any col
liery. check weighmen or check dock
ing bosses shall be employed. The
wages of said check weiehmen or
check docking bosses shall be fixed. col
lected and paid by the miner
We are willing to do this. but the
company objects to one being placed in
the breaker. There are many minor
matters that require adjustment. but
these are the most important"
The most serious condition that ex-
lists in the ninth district (Schuylkiu
region), according 10 the statement OF
District Secretary George Hartlein. is
that there are nearly 10000 miners
who are practically locked out. This
trouble also grew ont of the nine-hour
work day. According to his saving.
the miners union is today in the very
best condition, never better in its his
tory. and It is a rare exception to find
man around the mines now who is
not member of the union He hopes
the Cancellation committee will bring
peace and good will to all.
President Mitchell appeared pleased
to return to Wilkesbarre. He informed
to newspaper men that the conferences
OF the three executive boards would
end tonight or tomorrow and the SEES
sions would be private.