The Irish standard., 1906-03-24
OPERATORS FEAR !:
PLAN OF miners
OWNERS DECLARE PROPOSED
SCALE WOULD CAUSE VAST
REVOLUTION.
STATEMENT PICKS FLAWS
IN DEMANDS OF ToILERs
Joint Committee on Wages Holds ses-
sion in Indianapolis - Increase
Asked at Previous Meeting Is
Presented and Body Takes Recess.

New York, March 22.-The demands
of the anthracite mine workers for a
REIMBURSEMENT of wages and conditions
in the anthracite fields would II
granted by the operators mean q
veritable revolution in mining con-
ditions. according to statement is-
sued by the operators committee of
seven. The statement declares it to
be q mistake to assume that an eight
hour day and ten per cent. wage
increase represents. the sum total of
the demands of the miners. 1.-THE
new and uniform SCALE" says the
statement, would place every man
on the same basis, increasing the
wages of some men as much as $50
per cent. The average increase un.
DER the uniform scale would be near
ly 80 per cent. for outside men. The
proposed schedule would mean a YER.
table revolution in mining condi-
TONS"
Shows Glasses Of Workers.
The statement says that the min.
ers insist upon a uniform wage scale
for LAG separate and distinct classes
of workmen about the mines. "Fol
years." it continues, "the operator and
employee have recognized the differ
ent value of labor in different local.
ties and even in different sections OF
the same colliery. Yet now the min
ers' committee demands equal pay for
the engineer who runs a little ten.
horsepower engine and the man who
has a giant engine in his charge
:Ahey allow no more for the men
--.~-'.s-~ under difficulties and dangers
than for the same class of workers
at posts of ease and simplicity"
Committee Holds Session.
Indianapolis. Ind. March 22.-The
Joint scale committee of the joint
conference of the coal operators and
miners of western Pennsylvania
Ohio, Indian and Illinois. known al
the central competitive field. went
into session Wednesday in the palm
room of the Claypool hotel. There
were "a men in the room when the
committee was called to order in ex
ecutive session, President Mitchell
and Sccretary-Treasurer Wilson, o.
the United Mine Workers of Amer
lea, who are ex-officio members of thu
scale committee. In aou4.ion to thes,
two gentlemen the committee is com
posed of four operators and four min
ers from each of the four states.
Wage Scale Presented.
The representatives of the miners
presented the wage scale demanded
at the preceding conference and t,
the Joint scale committee Of tina
conference. This was done to max,
the record continuous and as a mat
ter of form only. Mr.. F. l.. Robbins
of Pittsburg, reiterated his statemen
that at no time had he agreed will
president Mitchell, of the miners or
ganization, to give an advance il
wages, and this statement was con
flrmed by Mr.. Mitchell. The commit
tee then took a recess.
Southwest Scale Loses.
The joint conference of the south
west district reelected the officers VIII,
served at the January conference
Judge ]. G. Tarsney, of Kansas City
who was chairman Of the former con
ference, was not present, and Bennett
Brown, the commissioner of tn
Southwestern Coal Operators asso
citation, was chosen to act as tenn
porary chairman. Robert Gilmore
miner, of Pittsburg, Kan, is the sec
rotary. Geo. Richardson, presiden
of the Kansas district, moved tina
the scale presented by the miners a
tire January Joint conference b.
adopted. On this propoaition the min
ers voted AYE" and the operators
no." and the motion was lost, tn.
rules of the conference requiring thai
upon any matter of vital importanc.
. motion to adopt can only carry b,
Q unanimous vote.
Committee to Handle Wages.
The conference on the motion re
ferred the entire wage matter for thu
southwest district to the following
Joint scale committee and took an ad
journment to await It's report. The
joint scale committee of the centra
competitive district organized b,
electing w. d. Ryan chairman, C. L
scroggs secretary and w. B. Wilson
and L. 8. Brooks assistant secre
taries. Discussion Of the request Of
the Illinois operators for relief from
the additional expense caused by thu
shot-flrers' bill occupied some time
hit M aRreemant WAS reached. Th(