The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-25

| Birmingham, Ala. August 22.-The
BOARD OF arbitration appointed to ad-
| JUST matters in controversy between
| coal operators and miners in the Bir-
| mlngham district. made it's award
| through its chairman. Judge Gray. of
| delaware, at a. late hour tonight. After
| reciting the claims made by the min
| ers and operators. respectively, the re-
| port, about 1,4O0 words in length.
| makes the following awards.
Minimum and maximum rate a slid
ing scale. the rates per ton for mining
coal on the Pratt basis vary accord
ing to the selling price of pig iron
A. IL cents when pig iron is selling at
$500 per ton, to 81 1-2 cents when iron
is selling at s11.50 per ton.
line same proDortionate increase is
to be given on day wages for work
IN and about the mines. but no increase
is given by this award for narrow
work.
A semi-monthly payment of wages:
From and after October 1st the earn
ings of miners and wages of day men
shall be paid semi-monthly and such
commiSSary checks or credits as the
operators may issue 70 their employ
ers shall not be transferable. but shall
be redeemable in goods at the respect
i've commissarieS upon which they are
drawn only when presented by the en-
ployes to whom they have been issued
or by some member of their families.
Rates for a narrow work:
The total of the maximum price-on
the Pratt basis-te be paid for work
in headings. exclusive of air courses.
shall be S2.11 per yard in lieu of 81. 81
per yard, the present rate; rates for
work in air courses to remain on the
present basis
On the subject of differential between
| machine and pick mining the boards
| makes no conclusion as insufficient
/ date have been presented on which to
form an intelligent award. The board
| suggests that a committee from both
! sides be appointed made experiments
| and fix a differential.
Minimum days of labor.
| The award on this subject provides
| for a system of fines to be imposed for
| absence from work. except for sick
ness or after notifying and obtaining
| consent Of the mine foreman. An al
| teration Of fining is a suspension from
| work for a fixed number Of days.
| Men who do not work twenty days
| in any one month when the mine is in
| operation twenty or more shall be fined
/ one dollar or suspended the first six
| signed to another working place. The
fines imposed shall be collected through
| the company'S officers and be paid to
the secretary-treasurer Of district 20
| (Alabama) of the United Mine Work.
ers Of America, on or before the tenth
day of each month.
| 1t shall be optional with the operator
to impose fines or suspend mine work
ers, or assign new places. in cases pro-
vided for above.
| Differential between Pratt and other
mines:
The differential in the rate for min
ing coal at the jefferson mine and the
Kimberly mine of the Central Coal
Company shall be reduced two and a
half cents ner tOn the yardage at the
above mines to remain as at present.
Employment of boys under IA years
Of age:
A submission having been made by
representatives of both sides to this
controversy Of the question Of the age
at which boys may be employed. it is
| hereby awarded that on and after Sep
tember l. 1903. no boys under the age
| Of fourteen years shall be employed or
permitted in the mines by any Of the
mine operators who are parties to the
arbitration.
} When differentia1s for thin coal are
paid they shall not apply to yaro
. prices.