The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-10
WAGE CONF ERENCE
OF mine WORKERS
Wilcox Makes Public Letter to
Mitchell Concerning the
Subject.
DECISION REGARDED AS FINAL
DECISION REGARDED AS FINAL
tBy Associated Press. J

NEW YORK, February 9.-President
David WILCOX. of the Delaware and Hud-
son Company. to-day made public tho text
of the letter which he wrote to John
Mitchell president OF the C1rted Mine
Worwers of America, concerning con-
ference between the mine wUlKers and the
operators to discuss the wage question.
The letter reviews the awsAl of Anthra-
cite coal strike commission, calling at
tcntion to the finding that the average
hours worked por day did ,i0s exceed Six
for the miners, and eight for the other
employees. Mr.. Wilcox says present con.
ditions are substantially til. same, and
that ANY suggestions or an eight-hour
day for the employees by tile Jay does
not therefore. look to diminution OF ac-
tual hours of labors. as they do not aver
age eisht-hours per day, but merely to
| change of wages by increasing the ratio
per hour SO rs to advance the wages
about l2.5 per cent. above the standard
fixed by the strike eos1nission. This ad-
vance would amount approximately to 8
cents per ton Of coal, or on the entire
product, about si,soo.o0o per annum. Such
an increase would tend to advance ito
| price OF coal to consumers"
| Wages Fixed BY Commission.
| Mr.. Wilcox ASSERTS that the wages
those OF the bituminous miner and re-
fers to the decision OF the commission
that the industry must remain open to
all seeking employment regardless of
their utilization or otherwise with labor
organizations" Mr.. Wilcox says the
commission covered by its award all
questions at Issue, and provided sat
isfactory method in the form OF the
Cancellation board for the adjustment OF
future grievances. This method, he says,
has been fair to all parties and has
been successful
Mr.. Wilcox thinks the commissions
decision must be regarded as final in
| the absence of new facts raising new
| questions.
No new questions. he says. have been
brought to public attention. and he re-
| CARDS 1t as scarcely conceivable that any
| party to the award should seek to retry
the very serious controversies heard by
| the strike commission, The conditions
established by the commission, he asserts,
| have, on the whole. proved satisfactory,
and 1t does not seem desirable to abandon
| tho results reached and resort TO new
methods which are uncertain and difficult.
| II, however. there are matters outside
the award and not covered by arbitration,
MI. Wilcox suggests that the members
| OF the strike commission be called on to
| act. so that any further award may be
| In harmony with that already made
Meeting Of the Operators.
a meeting Of the operators of the an
thracitc roads Is fixed for early next
week to discuss among themselves their
| side of the coal controversy before 60
ing into the conference with the repre-
| sentatlves OF the miners on February
| 18th. No formal meeting of the opera
| tors has yet been held. The operators
| say they do not know the nature OF the
| demands which will be made on them
at the coming conference.
Scenes of Disorder.
(By Associated Pfess.)
PITTSBURG. Pa. February 9.-Tne
conflict between President Dolan. OF the
local district of United Mine Workers of
America, and the delegates to the dis
trlct convention. now in session, who
for five days have tried to Gust Dolan
| from his office has been taken into the
courts. Dolan to-day secured prelim.
/ mary injunction, which restraints the del
| gates to the convention from interfering
| with his presiding over their meeting.
| from putting him out OF office. from
| taking possession of the books and prop
| erty OF which he is the custodian. and
| from electing his successor as president,
/ One hundred and thirty-six delegates are
named. and the Injunction was served on
| these individually while they were In the
I4conventlon hall o-day. When this latest
move of Dolan's became known there were
| more boots and Kisses in the hall and
! renewed scenes of disorder.
Two Committee Sessions.
(By Associated Press.)
WILKESBARRE, Pa. February o.
|srrn,o sessions of the Anthracite
| Mine Scale Committee were held to-
| day and the work of formulating the
demands to be presented to the operators
was continued. Nothing was made pub
lie.
Will Refuse Demand.
(By Associated Press.
/ = q AZ