The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-04-11
WITHDRAW
FROM The
COUNCIL

The Coal Handlers transportation coun-
Gil held very long and rather strenuous
session last evening and today too OF the
members of the council handed in their
designations and there is probability
that the organization will be disbanded.
The whole matter came up over the
signing or agreement that are soon 10 be
In effect for the next year. those who
have severed or wish 10 sever their con-
nections with the council refusing 10 ac-
cept the proposals OF the coal dealers.
The matter has somewhat OF a peculiar
history and has been hanging fire for
some time. The coal engineers and the
handlers as well as the coal teamsters
have been for the past four years sub
mitting agreements TO the dealers telling
Of the conditions under which they Will
work and tfr agreements have-hesR- SO
drawn and seemed so fair that the deal
ers waived point or two for the sake
OF peace and signed them.
The result OF this has been that there
has been more or less harmony and good
will among the workers at the coal in
dustry and the dealers.
This year the engineers and handlers
asked for a change OF the agreement so
that tho hours and the wage conditions
might be better, though the conditions OF
the old agreement were fair. When the
agreements for this year were presented
70 the dealers they considered the changes
demanded by the two organizations mem
toned and asked by the coal teamsters.
Considering the fact that the dealers
had granted all that was asked OF them
for the past four years. and In the main
the agreement in force last year being
satisfactory. they submitted a proposition
to sign the old agreements for this year.
This was voted on by the locals and the
engineers and coal shovelers rejected IL.
This was done. IL was stated. because
OF conditions in the Boston Yards. where
it was said that there was more coal
being shipped az a greater expense 20 the
companies while the men were getting
better wages and better hours, the same
being wanted here.
By some II was argued that conditions
in Boston and conditions here do not COM
pare. and that therefore wages In the two
cities should not compare, since condi-
tlons in Boston brought about certain
wage prospects, while here there was no
such contingency 20 be faced. BY the
coal teamsters II was argued that the
dealers had always shown n disposition
10 be fair and that this was the first time
they had submitted n proposition In four
years while the council had been the
dictator for that time and for the sake
OF harmony and 20 show n spirit OF fair
mindedness the proposition submitted
ought 10 be accepted. particularly since
Il was the one used and lived up 10 last
year and proved 40 satisfactory
j
that Il has the best and most satisfactory
agreement that arc known TO any labor
organization and that IL was in this that
tho success OF the past four years lay.
At the meeting last evening all these
points came out. but the shoyelers and
the engineers would not accept tho propo-
sltion of the dealers and withdrew. The
exact result Of this cannot be known as
vet II Is thought that there will be
n reconsideration Of the matter before the
final answer is sent TO the dealers ard
that the action taken last evening will
not lead 10 a strike in the coal yards.
The feeling is that should there be a
strike called at this time, with the three
bodies rot in harmony the result would
be disastrous 10 the unions. The old
agreement expires on the 18th OF this
month and the action OF the next few
days will be watched with anxiety.