The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-08-27
JUDGE GkAY'S AWARD
Settlement of the Mining Trouble In
the Birmingham District.

the Birmingham District.
Birmingham, Special.-The board OF
arbitration appointed to adjust mat
ters in controversy between coal op-
orators and miners in the Birmlng-
ham district. made its award through
its chairman, Judge Gray, of Della
ware, ct a late hour. After reclt-
ing the claims made by the miners
and the operators, respectively, the
report, about 1,40O words in length,
r.a.;es the following awards:
Minimum and maximum rate OF the
sliding scale: the rates per ton for
mining coal on the Pratt basis vary ac-
cording to the selling price OF pig
iron. Al 1-2 cents when pig iron IS
selling at IS per ton, to 81 IL cents
when irsn IS selling at $11.5O per ton.
The same proportionate increase Is
to be given on day wages for work IN
and about the mines. but no In
crease is given by this award for mar
row work.
A semi-monthly payment OF wages:
From and after October l. the earn
ings Of day men shall be paid semi
monthly and such commissary checks
or credits as the operators may issue
n their employes shall not be trans
fera5le, but shall be redeemable in
goods at the respective commissaries
upon which they are drawn only when
presented by the employees to whom
they have been issued or by some
member of their families.
Rates for narrow work: The total
Of the maximum price-on the Pratt
basis-to be paid for work in head
ings, exclusive of air courses, shall be
s2.71 per yard in lieu of s2.S4 per
yard the present rate; rates Tor
work in air courses to remain on the
present basis.
On the subject Of differential be-
tween machine and pick mining. the
board makes no conclusion, as lnsum-
cient data have been presented on
which to form an intelligent award.
The board suggests that committee
from both sides be appointed to make
experiments and fix differential.
Minimum days of labc<-: The award
on this subject provides for system
of fines to be imposed for absence
from work, except for sickness, or az
ter notifying and obtaining the con-
sent Of the mine foreman. An eltera-
ton of mining Is suspension -or
work for a fixed number Of days.
Men who do not work 20 days In any
one month when the mine is in opera
ton 20 days or more shall be fined 81
or suspended the first six days in the
following month. or be assigned to an
other working place. The fines i'm
posed shall be collected through the
company's officers and be paid to the
secretary.treasurer OF district 20 (Ala-
bama) Of the United Mine Workers O!
America, on or before the 10th day OF
each month. It shall be optional with
the operator to impose fines or sus-
pend mine workers, or assign new
places, in cases provided for above.
Diffential between Pratt and other
mines: The differential in the rate
for mining coal at the Jefferson mine
and the Kimberly mine OF the Central
Coal Company shall be reduced two
and one-half cents per ton, the yard
age at the above mines to remain as at
present.
Employment Of boys under IA years
of age: A submission having been
made by representatives CT both sides
to this controversy Of the question OF
the age at which boys may be en-
ployed. it is hereby awarded that on
and after September l. 1903. no boys
under the age of IA years shall be EN-
ployed or permitted in the mines by
any Of the mine operators who are
parties to this arbitration.