The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-07-19

the raises which are yet to be added to
this amount will be more than s4o5S, Az
or enough to make the total assessments
for the year more than s4S 100000
This is the largest assessment the coun-
ty ever had. Last year the total amount
including the raises, was $44,9i4034. The
gain then of this year over last year is
more than S3OOO,OO0. The gains in the past
during any one year have never been
more than s1,5OO000 over the assessment
of the previous year.
Figured on a percentage basis the in
more. and congratulate them on their
loking so we'll and hope that they have
enjoyed their rest, and the little vacation
that they have taken since we were last
together. l wish to congratulate them
on the good behavior and general good
nature that has characterized their con-
duct, not only toward the general public
but toward the representatives and en-
ployes of the companies ever since the
cessation of labor on July l. 1 have heard
frequently from the various camps and
on all sides come reports of the good
conduct and peacefulness of the miners.
Now, that the miners have once more
assembled in convention the operators
take It for granted that the meaning of
the coming together Is that you want
peace and harmony and are once more
ready to go to work II you can do SO
on terms that are fair and reasonable
II know that the operators have lost
something by reason of the cessation of
work and they are ready to resume. The
miners also have lost a large sum in
wages, but hope that there has been no
want or restitution on their part. 1t is
a conservative estimate to place their
loss in wages at not less than SIG 600 a day.
and this amount multiplied by eighteen
days give the minimum amount which
the miners have lost In wages"
AMENDED HIS FIGURES.
The attention of Captain Bush was
called to the fact that two Sundays and
July 4 had occurred during the eighteen
days, SO he amended his figures to make
the sum read $4,000 multiplied by 10 equals
$780, 00o Continuing he said:
"A committee from your convention
called on the operators and made prop
ostion for settlement. The essence of the
proposition was arbitration. At the last
joint conference you made something in
the nature of a proposition to arbitrate,
but one that l thought most unfair and
not calculated to further peace, and when
the proposition was declined by the oper-
ators they declared that they were in
favor of arbitration, but not in favor of
arbitration as proposed by the miners.
Il will now present a written PROPOSE
ton, which has been prepared since the
miners committee called on the operators.
This action is III reply to the proposition
made this daV kV he r1ipara
Captain Bush then read the following
propositions
OPERATORS PROPOSITION.
Replying to the suggestion this day
made by the committee of the Miners
convention ~
THE operators withdraw all propo-
sitions heretofore made including the
proposition of the 21s cents advance in
the scale and submit the following
proposition:
I'VE will submit to arbitration the
question as to what the scale of
wages and terms of contract at the
coal mines in question shall be COM
mencing July /, 1903.
The arbitration commission shall
be composed of two arbitrators Sc
lected by the miners organization; two
arbtrators selected by the operators
organization and these four shall by
majority agreement select a fifth ar
bitrator from one of the following
United States judges: The circuit
Judge for the fifth juricial clrcurt
which includes Alabama, or one Of
the district judges for the state of
Alabama. If this proposition is ac-
cepted the members of the Miners
union shall resume work by Wednes-
day. July % 1903.
Pending the decision Of the arbi-
tration commission wages shall he on
the scale prevailing during the year
ending July l. 1903; such wages to be
adjusted upon the award of the COM
mission by the operators paying the
difference II an increase, or charging
the men with the difference if there be
a decrease.
"a majority of the arbltrators shall
decide on the award In handing
down the award the commission shall
render statement Of their expense
including their own compensation and
these expenses shall be paid one-half
by the operators association and one
half by the United Mine Workers or
ganization."
INCLUDE ALL POINTS.
Captain Bush further said that he wish
ed the miners to understand that the
proposition to arbitrate included the
eight-hour day and the semi-monthly
pay day.
1.-The reason we suggest In our propo-
sltion a means of selecting the fifth mem
Der of the arbitration committee is that
the arbitrators make the proposition In
good faith. They did not at first wish
to arbitrate. They did not think 1t wise
to open up all these questions and dis
turb conditions; but now they are willing
TO arbitrate. and I wish to say most en-
phatically that whatever the finding Of
the commission may be the operators will
abide by It, Therefore we suggest a
method by which the membership of the
commission may soon be filled and ! ask
that the proposition be fairly considered
and that you will let us know the result
as early as possible. I fully believe that
the men wish to be fair
Mr.. Farley replied on behalf OF the
miners. substantially as follows:
Mr.. FARLEY REPLIES.
There is no one in this meeting who
is more gratifed than I am at the propo-
sition on the part of the operators to
arbitrate. There is only one thing about
1t that do not like and that Is the
method of appointing the fifth member
of the commission. Judges of the United
States courts may be all that Captain
Bush says-and more. AS this proposition
looks to me 1t Is only a repetition of the
scheme that they endeavored to work on
the miners In the anthracite strike in
Pennsylvania But we will not accept
the judges from whom to select an
umpire. We know them and we know
their records toward organized labor in