Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-26
WAGES TO BE PAID DRIVERS in
COAL MINES CAUSES A
RUPTURE.
MAY QUIT WORK APRIL /
While There is Little Probability of
Strike in Iowa it is Very Possible
That Work Will Not Be Resumed
Until Agreement is Signed.

Des Moines, March 25. = Especially
to follow the Indianapolis
agreement means to make uniform the
wages of the drivers in mines all over
District 13 or to reduce them all on
the same scale is the question which
holds in a deadlock the joint scale COM
mittee and the joint convention of the
miners and operators of the Iowa dis
trict, now in session here. Nothing
can be done until this matter is set
tied and since the miners yesterday
afternoon refused to submit the ques-
ton to an arbitration board there is
little likelihood of settlement soon.
The Point at Issue.
The drivers in the shooting coal dis
tricts, comprising most of the big
mines in central Iowa are receiving
$2.56 per day, while in the southern
and northern fields, where the coal is
mined and not shot the wages are
$2.44 The operators have always stood
out for this differential, saying that the
work in the northern and southern
fields is less hazardous and requires
less real skill as driver than does the
work in the shooting coal veins. This
has always been stumbling block in
conventions in the past and this
year The miners are more than ever de-
termined to gain their point because
of the fact that they have to be reduc-
ed if they stand by the agreement
reached by the eastern field.
Today practically nothing is being
done toward making scale for the
next two years. The scale committee
is at a standstill Both sides, since
the miners have refused to allow the
question to go to arbitrators, are al
the end of theiyg resources. The pros
pect at present is not very bright ant
yet neither miners nor operators be
lieve that the conference now in Sses
sion will result in anything but al
agreement.
May Stop Work.
| One thing that may deprive the mar
ket of coal for a time and cause con
sequent rise in the price of that com
modify, however is the very possible
| postponement of starting to work aftel
| March 81 unless an agreement is duly
signed The present agreement ex
pires on that date and unless it should
be allowed to continue in force unit
another is made 1t is very possible
that the miners will refuse to work
This will not, technically be considered
a strike but simply postponement
Today it is admitted by many that thi
occasion may arise but few say ther'
| is any probability of a strike in Iowa
Arbitration Resolution.
The resolutions which were present
j ed are as follows:
"That the following question be sub
mitted to arbitration, each party to az
\ point one person and they to select
i third who shall be the arbitrator an
i shall be disinterested person and hi
decision shall be final and binding ol
the part of both miners and operators
j The question: In following the Indian
apo!is settlement what reduction
should the drivers receive in the frs
! and fourth sub-districts of Iowa?"
Il There is no fight over the wage
}. of drivers in the second and third sui
:, districts. In these the drivers receiv
:, S2.56 per day. In the first and fourt
, the wages are $2.44. The miners i
the latter sub-districts demand tn
d wages given in the second and thirt
, The operators. however maintain tha
the run of coal is of much less dar
gerous nature in the first and fourt
, than in the other districts and tha
smaller wages are only fair. The frs
district includes Appanoose and Wayn
counties, Iowa and Putnam county
Missouri. The fourth includes Boon
and Webster counties, Iowa.