Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-08-02
OWNERS OF ANTHRACITE COAL
MINES TELL STORY OF
TROUBLES.
MINERS TALK OF STRIKE
s, D. Warmer of the Lehish Valley
Company Makes Statement Re-
garding the Disagreement With
the Miners Over Check Weiahmen
and Their Remuneration.

Wilkesbarre, Pa, July 30. - The
controversy between some of the coal
companies and their miners in the up
per anthracite coal field over the
question of the payment Of the check
weighing and check-docking bosses,is
attracting much attention and causing
! considerable uneasiness in the Wyo-
ming and Lackawanna valleys. The
situation has reached such a stage
that the representatives of the oper-
ators have deemed 1t proper to make
an official public statement of their
side Of the case. The statement was
made by S. D. Warmer of the Lee
high Valley Coal Co., member of
the anthracite Cancellation board. BY
way of explanation it may be said
that at some of the collieries the
mine workers have been permitted to
employ at their own expense, men
who are a check on the company's
weighmen and docking bosses. At
most of the mines, this scheme works
well, and at others there is friction.
i Complete History.
Mr.. WARMERS statement gives a
complete history of the controversy
He quotes resolution adopted by the
board a year ago to the effect that the
wages of the check weighmen shall
be paid by miners requesting it" and
that the company shall make the de-
duction from the earnings of such mi
ners as make legal assignment" This
resolution, Mr.. Warmer adds, has
never been repealed.
u Ask Collection.
4 Recently the employees of No. 6 coll
|, liery Of the Pennsylvania Co., Mr.. War
riner says asked that concern to col
lect ope-fourth of cent per ton from
all miners agreeing to the PROPOSE
ton and that the money be turned ov-
er to an authorized committee of min
ers. The company replied that it was
willing to collect exact wages for the
checkmen, but refused to collect a
fund to be turned over to and be held
by a committee.
Referred to Board.
The matter was referred to the
board Of Cancellation, which could not
decide the question and it was turned
: over to Umpire Carroll D. Wright Con-
tinuing, the statement says: "T. D.
Nicholas, representing the miners Of
: District No. 1 asked the umpire to de-
liver q decision in regard to their &C
| ton on the entire subject of check
\ weignmen for the reason that he had
become convinced that the board had
made mistake in the resolution of a
, year ago and that he thought that all
miners should be compelled to contrib
ute to the support of check weigh
man.
Matter Settled.
3The representatives of the opera
tives on the board explained to the
5 umpire that the question submitted by
Mr.. Nichols was not contained in the
i grievances submitted by the employees
, of the Pennsylvania company, but it
was matter which had already been
. settled by the board and therefore not
by the umpire.
r Contention Unsustalned.
]. "The umpire did not sustain the con
y tention of the men, but in addition to
q his formal finding, took occasion to set
forth his views concerning the CUES
a ton asked by Mr.. Nichols, and in do
: ing so, exceeded the authority vested in
!, him by the anthracite coal strike com
mittee.
1T should be clearly understood that
! the operators did not object to check
= weighmen, in fact, many of them are
In favor of the system.
The operators, however. do not be
$ lieye that it was contemplated by the
j.. strike commission that they should dis.
;. charge such of their employees as do
i not desire to join with the majority
of their fellows in the request for the
: appointment of the check weighm en-. .
J. Hazleton Men Want Adjustment.
! Hazleton, Pa, July 3O--The mine
= workers employed by Coke Bros. &
/ Co. at Drifton met last night and
adopted resolution instructing Dis
b trict President Dettrey to communi
S cate with President Cornell of the an
g thracite Cancellation board and reques
d him to convene that body not Later
than August for the further consid
:, Grafton and final adjustment of theil
;. grievances, involving the unloading O.
y rock by miners, which had been re