Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-12

H..
Engineers, $50 1900
Total, 1l330J s. 42J 90
This amount was paid to the men chiefly
during the last fifteen days OF May, as the
Strike Commission provided that it should
be paid before June l. a careful inquiry
reveals the laudable fact that most of it
was put in the savings accounts ut the
workers thus disposed of it. Others used
it to pay debts contracted during the big
strike, but these were only those of large
families or spendthrifts. The steady work
since the ending of the strike has enabled
most of the mine workers to dispose of any
debts they contracted during the long
idlenoss, and the great majority looked
upon me pack pay as clear profit. They
have added to 1t the savings from the 10
per cent. increase in wages since April l.
they having now had three payments, and
the fourth being due.
There We're some miners, as on ordinary
payday nights, who celebrated the back
wages rayment by spree, and in some of
the villages where there are foreigners
chiefly few went to work for two days fol-
lowing the receipt of the back pay. This
failing. however, is growing much less
marked than in the past, and whereas. il
few years ago it was the majority who got
drunk after pay day, it is now the mnori-
ty and small one. This is largely DIM to
the organization of temperance and social
societies which have prospercd marvellous
ly in the last two years Whatever else
the uploniZng' has accomplished, it has
developed the social side of the foreigners
character, encouraged him to commllni-
cate with his fellow workers, to expand
his vocabulary to other English words,
than swear words, and to broaden and
educate him. He is now most active in the
discussions at the locals. and he is repre-
scented by u goodly proportion of officials
i'm the local and district boards. every vice
president of the union in the three dis
tricts being or foreign birth or eXtr;c-
ton.
Another service to which the back pay
was put was to pay the expenses I'll wed
dingS Inquiries of the marriage license
clerks at Scranton, Wilkes Barre and
HottSville, the three large centres of the
region. show that there have been more IL
cenScs granted in the early days of June
Than in any preceding year. and that
most of them have been TO mine workers.
This matrimonial rush is continuing I'M
abated. while furniture dealers ami land
lords watch it with qualification.
Like other men. the mine worker. now
that he has gained some, wants more and
there are not Il few looking forward to the
time, three years hence, when, the present
agreement with the operators expiring
they will be able to ask for Il still further
Increase. They say now that the opera
tors VINO are increasing the tide water
price of coal ten cents a month until it has
been increased fifty cents, will gain more
than so, 900 900 while of the incrca Sed
price The mine workers VIII get only $1,000 =
900 What gain is coming their way they
want at once, and there are some restless
spirit" already Chaing because they are
not being paid the increase in the Nav
circular. despite the fact that the Commits
Sioncr required to determine it, according
to the provisions of the Strike Commits
SiOnS finding has not yet been appointed.
| This increase is one cent a ton for every
| tive cents Il ton in the price of coal at tide
water above $3.50.