The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-09
MINERS WAIT TIE VERDICT
MITCHELL AND HIS MEN TO MEET
THE OPERATORS TO-DAY.

Latter in a Statement Defend the Conoilia.
tIon Board From Charges OF Delay
c. r. u. Discusses a Resolution Look.
ing to a Government OF the Mines.
President Mitchell Of the United Mine
Workers declined to talk yesterday on the
propositions he will put before the an
thra cite operators committee at the joint
conference to-day in the Jersey Central
Building or to say whether or not he will
be willing to alter the terms Of his arbitra-
ton proposal. ...
His committee takes the stand that new
conditions have arisen since the award
Of the anthracite strike commission went
into effect, that these create inequality in
wa es and that therefore the demands
Of the miners ought properly to be arbi-
trated. William Il. Dettrey, a member
of Mitchell's committee Of seven and Of
the Cancellation committee, said that the
conditions of work we're liable to change
at any time.
Z could give many cases of inequalities
in conditions and wa ges which nave arisen
he said.
For instance, I know Of one outside man
who is getting SLIT a day, while another
man half a mile away, working under ex-
actly the same conditions, is getting s1.s0.
With such a large number Of men work.
ing it is to be expected that new conditions
may arise here and there in three years.
None Of the members Of the committee
OF seven would be quoted as saying that
they would be willing to arbitrate the ques-
ton whether or not any new point had
arisen which should in urn be submitted
to arbitration, but as far as could be gath
cred they are willing to accept this kind Of
arbitration on the ground that it will show
such new conditions to nave arisen.
A statement was issued last evening on
behalf of the anthracite oprators' COM
mittee to show that arbitration of disputes
such as that afforded by the board Of con-
citation has been beneficial to both opera
tors and miners. The statement concludes:
Looking back oyer the years Of struggle
bot.. miners and operators seem agreed that
one Of the great benefits arising ont Of the
strike Of 1902 was the establishment Of the
board Of cancellation, an arbitration body
whose decisions have been received with sat-
~isfaction by both employer and employed.
In fact, only one argument has been made
against its continuance. and that is by the
miners, who are demanding its reconstruction,
because OF the alleged delays in the ADJUST
ment of grievances. In response TO this IL
has been shown that over three-fourths OF all
the cases submitted have been disposed OF
within two months. and manY in a much
shorter period
The question ,of the coal strike was
brought up at the meeting Of the Central
Federated Union by. Michael Fitzgerald
Of the Letter Carriers Union, who made a
motion that the Speaker Of the House of
Representatives be requested to ask the
House to investigate the conditions of coal
mining. in the interests Of the public, with
a view to the taking over by the Govern
ment Of the mines Of such operators as
were unwilling TO consider the interests of
the public.
Fitzgerald then proceeded to denounce
the coal operators. He said the miners
were entitled TO all that they we're asking
A delegate suggested that the matter be
refe rred TO John Mitchell. This brought
Charles Delaney Of the Granite Cutters
Union to his feet.
'While I may be IN favor of all that Dele
gate Fitzgerald says, do not think it will
be for the best interests Of the miners II
we pass such a resolution" he said. In
view of the negotiations between the miners
and the operators, / think it would be poor
judgment to PASS such a resolution now,
and that it should be withdrawn"
Fitzgerald said he was willing to with
draw his motion. and then continued 10
denounce the operators.
Delegate Rooney Of the Bluestone Cutters
said that the retail dealers We're the people
to get ar. They we're organized, he believed,
TO raise the price Of coal.
i asked a dealer why the coal was scarce,
and he could not tell me" he said. He
admitted that the operators were charging
no more for the coal Why. then, should
l pay 81 Is a ton more for it2"
He had heard that Mr.. Smoot was the
head Of the Coal Dealers, Organization
A motion to investigate the Coal Merchants
Association by a special committee OF the
Central Federated Union, which was made
by Rooney. was referred to the executive
nam tnIftah fNr antiSn