Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1906-03-26

eight hour day and a ten per cent.
wage increase represents the sum to-
tai Of the demands Of the anthracite
miners. They insist besides on a uni.
form wage scale for LAG separate and
distinct classes OF working about the
mines. The adoption Of their plan
would work a revolution in mining.
They demand equal pay for the en-
giDeer who runs a little ten-hOrse
power engine and the man who has y
giant Corliss In his charge. They al
low no more for the men working UNI
der great difficulties and danger than
for the same class of workers at posts
OF ease and simplicity.
For years operator and employee
have recognised the different value 81
labor in different localities and even
in the different sections OF the same
colliery. The new and uniform scale
would place every man on the same
basis, increasing the wages OF some
men as much as $50 per cent. The
average increase, under the uniform
scale, would be near 80 per cent. Tor
outside men. The proposed schedule
would mean a veritable revolution in
mining conditions.
Figures taken from the RECORDS OF
the Lehigh Valley Coal company ~
pity conditions generally. There are
hosting engineers in Hazleton mine
Of the Lehigh Valley division who now
receive 1874 cents per hour but wno
would. under the uniform scale, re-
ceive 1913 cents.
The uniform schedule OF II ~
cents an hour demanded for all boys
working as slate pickers would result
in more than doubling the remunera-
ton of thousands OF the Youngest
bows. There are plenty Of men wno
are not able or do not care for neaVler
work. who are getting around IL /!
cents an hour and up to l6.l, yet these
children who work as slate pickers
would receive nearly as much. Some
~ them now get SO cents an our.
The new rate would increase this III
per cent.
There are masons in the Mahanoy
and Shamokin divisions who wouiu
have their pay increased ll5 per cent.
They now get ia cents an hour y
81 IL is demanded.
Some screen tenders IN the SIOUX
mine. same divisions, would receive
practically twice as muc as now.
Certain breaker engineers IN the Ma
hanoy and Shamokin divisions nov
receive 1919 cents an hour. Their
work is easy. 1t Is without danger
II does not require more than ordinary
ability. Yet it is proposed to more
than double their salary adding ~
: cent. and making q total OF ISL
cents an hour.
Blacksmiths would have increases no
to 81 per cent, bumpers up to ~,
While platemen would get within q
cent double on their present pay.
Other similar instances are numers
Gus. Under the new demands, "un.
dreds OF employees would receive
better than twice their present pay.
There are watchmen. whose wages
now range from 81 to 1872 cents an
hour. some Of whom would have l4o
Der cent. added.
There are screen and picker bosses
and car oilers who would profit 20
per cent, tracimen who would 40
even 4 per cent. better than tnat
There are leaders who would get with.
IN a cent u 1920 and breaker oilers
who would receive S2.O4, and sweepers
Who would have S1.79 for 'every dollar
they earn no win a given number OF
hours.
The sweeping demands OF the Mine
Workers would double the wages OF
manv "inside" men. While the gen
eral average Of increase for INSIDE day
labor would approximate Us per cen.
and most Of the men thus employed
would receive under the schedule ~
issue advances Of one-hth to one
quarter OF their pay. there would be 2
great many men and boys working AZ
the easier tasks involving less respon-
s,bi,tv and less danger who would
have their wages doubled.
There are seven pumpmen In the