Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-04-12
TOday's Telegraphic News
Miners and Operators.

New YORK, April l2.-Important de-
velopments that will determine whether
there will be peace or war in the hard
coal fields are expected at the joint meet
ing OF the operators and miners this
afternoon when John Mitchell submits
the miners reply to the arbitration pro-
pOsal of the operators. The counterpart
posal of the miners will without doubt
be rejected, but as neither side has as
yet appeared to have reached the irre-
ducible minimum, il is not thought that
negotiations will I've broken off. Another
adjournment is anticipated.
The miners scale committee has made
several material changes in the opers-
tors pro POSITION, but there appears to
be but two notifications or submissions
upon which 10th sides may split, name
ly the eight hour-day and the PROPOSE
ton of the operators that reduction ol
wages be considered rs we'll as an in
crease. The miners are willing to ac-
cept the old anthracite strike commission
to arbilrate the questions, but will insist
that the seventh member be appointed
by President Roosevelt, to take the
place OF Bishop Spalding, of Peoria, Hi
nois, who cannot serve because of i'll
ness. The operators will make no OBJ.
lection to this demand of the miners.
The sub-scale committee will practi-
cally demand that all the original de-
mands be submitted TO the anthracite
commission, with the exception of the
demand for union recognition.
This demand will be changed so that
any ayr, ement arrived at will be between
the operators aud the anthracite mine
workers." The miners soy that for every
practical purpose the mine workers
union is recognized by the operators
since they deliberate and make terms
with them for the conditions of labor in
and about the mines.
The counter-propOsal of the miners
insists that the eight hour work day be
submitted for arbitration.
This is an important demand and the
sub-scale committee took the firm posi-
ton that il must be arbitrated. The
operators cay this morning that they
will not accept any proposition to arbl'
trate the question of an eight hour day.
Which side will give way on this ques-
ton is prOblematical.
New York, April l2.-The anthra-
cite operators and miners went into SEES
sion at 80 this afternoon in The Jersey
Central building to renew negotiations
with view oftrying tOsettle the questions
brought up by the dissatisfied sborers OF
the coal fields. 1t was the miners move
today. Through President Mitchell,
they made reply to The offer of the opera
tors that the proposed arbitration of The
differences be limited to the question Of
wages and changes in the board of con
citation.
The conference of miners and opera
tors which went into session at 1870 this
afternoon, adjourned at 2:lO. Presi'
dent Mitchell, on behaltof the miners,
rejected the operators offer OF limited
arbitration, but filed an amended offer
to bring about peace through the same
means.
The amended of Ter strikes out the de-
n ands FIR official recognition { the
Uni cd Mine Workers Union, lat asks
for prat tlcally the same results by asking
he operators to draw up an agreement
With the "AnthrIcile Mine Workers"
The checking system demand is drop
ped by the miners and hey also ask that
whatever agreement is reached it be for
one year. The meeting adjourned sub
ect to the call of both chairmen.