The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-03-12

shall not have more than two laborers
at the same time strikes us most un-
favorably. We have no legal or moral
right TO establish such arbitrary rules
I'VE cannot increase wages without ad-
vancing the price OF coal and we are not
willing to advance the price OF coal. You
may reply that we took this same posi-
ton In 1900 and 1902. So we did. We could
not, OF our own accord. have advanced the
price OF coal: but by the aid Of the public
you succeeded in getting wages raised.
and thereby compelled US to advance the
price OF coal in order TO pay the demands
you made upon US.
You ask us. in order to provide funds
for the expenditures incurred by the
miners organization, 10 agree that each
company shall collect from each employe
such an amount as may be levied by your
organization monthly; the amounts thus
collected at each cOlliery to be turned
over TO an authorized committee at the
colliery.
WORKS UNJUSTLY.
LAS a matter OF policy we would not
make such an agreement as your request,
and as a matter OF law. we are not per-
mitted 70 make 1t. Your check-off system
works unjustly to the non-union man.
I'VE see no reason to change the board
OF conciliation as established by the an
thracitc coal strike commission. Your
system would simply involve the creation
OF a series of minor boards, whose de-
cisions might be conflicting, and from
which appeals would have TO be taken 10
an arbitrator, thereby creating more de-
lays than now exist Your complaint that
the board OF Cancellation does not act
promptly, thereby causing unusual delays
Is not warranted by the facts
1--WE urged upon the commission tho
adoption OF the sliding scale, which gives
The workmen the full benefit OF any in
crease I'm the price OF coal, and relieves
them from any reduction OF wages in
case the price falls below f. o. b. price
of $3.50 per ton. New York harbor. As
you are we'll aware. in some months. when
an active demand for coal enables us to
sell IL at an advanced price. the wages
have been INCREASED per cent; and dur
ing the fall and winter months the in
crease, as a rule, Is fSom 6 TO per cent"
our proposition is that the awards
made by the anthracite coal strike COM
mission and the principles upon which
they were established by the commission.
and the methods established for carrying
out their findings and awards shall be
continued for and during a further term
OF three years from the first day OF April
1906"
The letter is signed by George F. Baer,
w. II. Truesdale. J. B. Kerr, David VIII
cox. Morris Williams. K. r.. Thomas. J.
l.. Cake. and is dated New York. March 9.
CONFERRED WITH MITCHELL
Philadelphia, March 12.-Charles +.
Neill United States commissioner OF
labor. and John Mitchell held a confer
ence at the Hotel Walton here yesterday.
The meeting was the result OF an ar
rangement made on Saturday, when Mr..
Mitchell consented TO stop of here few
hours on his way to Indianapolis. Neither
the nature OF their conference. Mr..
Mitchell saying that II would not be wise
to do so at this time.
II l. believed, however, that Mr.. Nell
came here to see Mr.. Mitchell at the in
stance OF PresidenI Roosevelt Neither
Mr. Mitchell nor Mr.. NELL made any Sc
cret OF their belief that the situation In
the anthracite region is grave.
MINERS WILL STRIKE.
Shamokn. Pa, March 2-The news
that the operators had officially declared
they would not grant a single demand
OF the special anthracite committee ap-
pointed by the recent local convention OF
United Mine Workers, appointed 10 treat
with the operators In regard TO another
agreement for one or three years was re-
ceived with much surprise and disappoint-
ment here by United Mine Workers.
They say they want what is coming 20
them, principally an eight-hour day, rec
ognition OF the union and an increase OF
wages. They are determined on these con-
cessions and will go on strike by April l
n the operators do not grant the conces-
slons. Local operators are making every
preparation for a tie-up and II Is said
they were advised one week ago by coal
companies 10 prepare for the worst. Coal
superintendents tohght say Il will be n
fight 20 a finish unless the miners remain
at work.