Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-03-22
Illinois Operators Say it Adds to Expense of
Mining.
MINERS REFUSE TO STATE POSITION
adjournment Taken to Allow Them to
Confer Among Themselves.
ANTHRACITE OPERATORS MAKE STATEMENT
AIIeEe that Demands of Men Means
Revolution in Conditions of
work in the Col
1ieriea.

the coal operators and miners ( entral
competitive and southwest dstf T. . In
session almost the entire day, bt ng
was accomplished toward srrivin IN
agreement. -
The committee of the central comp
field composed OF Illinois, Indiana, Z
and western Pennsylvania, devoted its
sions to discussion of the Illinois shot-nrt
law, which the operators OF that state CLAIM
puts an additional expense of from to 10
cents on each ton of mined coal. The min
ers' representatives on the committee re-
fused to make any declaration upon the
subject and asked for recess until tomor-
row morning that they might caucus. Their
caucus was devoted to discussion as to the
best means OF getting the argument in the
joint committee away from the shot-frers
proposition and getting before the commit
tee the general proposition OF wages. run
Of mine basis difrerental and other matters
contained in the demands made by them in
the former joint conference, which ad-
Journed February 2. They regard these as
more important and desire that they shall
be settled first. These demands were placed
bafore the joint committee today the
bases for argument, and no otner PROPOSE
tion or motion was made during the day
The operators and miners attending the
Joint conference spent the day amusing
themselves The committees of both dis
tricts will report to their several joint con-
ferences as soon as they have reached a
definite understanding. ANY agreement
reached must be ratified by those several
conferences. the members Of which are
awaiting the action OF their committees.
Illinois operators held a caucus and reit-
Grated their firm position in their demand
enrr uyha
just situation caused by the expense en-
tailed by the shot-firers law.
Compromise Under Confederation.
II was stated tonight that the miners
representatives on the joint scale commit
tees of the central and southwest districts
at their joint meeting tonight decided to
ask Cor The subniission OF the wage scale
matter 20 subcommittees tomorrow. These
subcommittees win, II is stated. be pre-
sented with proposition from the miners
TO restore the scale OF two years ago III
the central competitive district and a rela-
tive advance in the southwest district.
II is further stated that a movement Is
on foot among the officials OF the Illinois
miners 70 propose to the Illinois opera
tors that II they agree 20 the restora-
ton of the scale of two years ago, which
Is equivalent to an increase of SIS per
up and some arrangement made after the
present joint conference adjourns.
southwest District Conference.
The joint conference of the southwest dis
trict named a joint scale committee and
took an adjournment pending its action.
President Mitchell OF the Mine Workers
said today he had not received letter from
President Baer in reply to his proposition
for another anthracite meeting. and until
he had received II and submitted it to the
miners anthracite committee. the members
OF which are here. he could not discuss the
time and place for the meeting
The entire wage matter of the e-southwest
district was referred to the following joint
scale committee;
For the minerss
Kansas-W. III. McC'loskey, Alex Howatt
John Hoy and John Billings.
Missouri-James Mooney, j. 7. Mussell,
Grant Parker and Thomas Roosevelt
Indian Territory. Texas and Arkansas
j. NJ. Morgan, Conner Gowar. Peter Stew
art and John Ingram.
For the operators
Kansas II. Shaw Peter Mccall. s j.
Tonkin and Ira Fleming.
Missouri. IL. BoVard J. &. Tarsney.
Edward Nevis and George w. Kierstad.
n. S'a T bush. William BHsby, % n +. S' Bache and
w. X. Gordon.
statement OF Anthracite Operators,
NEW YORK. March ei.-The demands of
the anthracite workers for Teadjustment
Of wages and conditions In the anthracite
fields would II granted by the operators
mean veritable revolution In mining con-
ditions, according TO a statement issued by
the operators committee OF seven today
The statement declares It 10 be mistake
10 assume that an eight-hour day and a 10
per cent wage increase represents the sum
total Of the demands OF the miners This
now and uniform SCALE" says the state
ment. would place every man on the same
basis, increasing the wages OF some men
as much as 100 per cent The average in
crease under the uniform scale would be
nearly % per cent for outside men. The
proposed schedule would mean a veritable
revolution I'm mining conditions. The
statement says that the miners insist upon
a uniform wage scale for LAG separate and
distinct classes OF workmen about the
mines.
For years" il continues. "the operator
and employe have recognized the different
value Of labor I'm different localities and
even in different sections OF the same col
liery, Yet, now the miners committee de-
mahds equal pay Tor the engineer who
runs a little ten-hOrse power engine and
the man who. has a giant engine In his
charge. They allow no moro for the men
working under the dinieulties and dangers
than for the same class OF workers at posts
Of ease and simplicity
According 10 the statement, masons in
the Mahoning and ShamolUn division would
have their wages increased III per cent
under the new rate proposed by the miners
committee. They now receive ia cents per
hour and demanded s7la cents. Some screen
tenders In the Sioux mine In the same divi-
sion who now receive 1913 cents per hour
would receive an increase Of III per cent
under the new rate, The wages OF black
smiths would be increased 81 per cent,
bumpers would receive IS per cent increase
and plate men would get within 1 cent OF
double the wages they now commend. The
statement adds;
other similar instances are numerous.