The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-13
MINERS PROPOSAL REJECTED
OPERATORS STICK TO ORIGINAL
ARBITRATION PLAN.
s.. in SntchelrS New Demand n scheme to
Recognize the UniOn-WillS Submit Their
Formal Reply Next Week-MinerS Con.
yention TO Act on Arbitration Plans.

vention 10 Act on Arbitration Plans.
Tho new propositions OF the anthracite
,olners' committee Of seven, as outlined
In Yesterdays SUN, were submitted to the
"n,bracite operators committee Of seven
resterday and rejected by the operators.
I. turning down the miners latest pro-
nosals the operators reafHrm their last
nnroposition to the mine workers, but say
hat they will still be willing to meetMitchell.
Mitchell will do nothing until he receives
formal reply, which the operators will
send 10 him by letter some time next week.
Then he will call a convention of the anthra-
oi,a mine workers. The reply Of the oper-
otors 10 Mitchell yesterday was an informal
one. To the new propositions OF the miners
Committee. by which the companies are
osked TO deduct the assessment under the
checkoff from the wages OF the employees
onIv as authorize them 30 to do, the per
s,ors say there is nothing which would
depriye the union OF its advantage over
the non-lnion men.
The only men who would authorize the
oheck off would be the union men, and the
non.union men would be known and
.snotted." and would rave a hard time
In conseouenoe. Mitohell's offer to waive
recognition Of the union, therefore. would
M, make the lot of the non-union men any
easier
The conference began at a little after
IA NJ. in the rooms OF the Trunk Line
Association, l4S Liberty street. The reply
of the miners was read to the operators and
the latter retired to consider it. President
Baer then made the following reply on
behalf Of the operators:
We regret that you have not accepted
orr propositions. We do not feel that we
can modify them. We will hereafter answer
vo,Ir communication by letter, or II you
desire a further meeting the time can be
arranged now or be hereafter fixed by the
respective ohairmen.'
Some desultory talk followed and the
neetinR adjourned. Mitchell then gave out
comics OF the miners reply, which is as
follows
The committee representing the anthra-
cite mine workers have given your statement
and proposal OF April 8 most careful and
serious consideration. and We desire TO ex-
press our keen regret that our proposition
70 srbitrate the differences between us did
not meet with Your approval. When We
nroposed that the board Of Cancellation -
With Judge Gray, or any one he might desig-
nate. as chairman and umpire should be
empowered TO pass judgment upon our re-
s~pective claims, we believed that we had
met your highest expectations and felt that
We had dischar ged our responsibilities in the
fullest measure. However. 1t seems that you
are unwilling to submit to this tribunal the
rnestion OF our joint relations. notwithstand-
lrg YOUR oft repeated words OF confidence in
its efficiency.
In your conditional proposal to submit to
the Anthracite Coal Strike Commission. or to
such Of its members as might be willing to
serve. the question Of wages and the adjust
ment of complaints you elimi ate from ur
demands many of their most essential feat
ures. Indeed. a careful perusal OF your
proposition discloses the fact that an arbitra-
ton Of even these two questions cannot take
place unless it is first demonstrated that there
h We been such chan ges IN conditions in the
anthracite coal industry as to require a modi-
Acation of the award OF the Anthracite Coal
Strike Commission.
Thi. suggestion offers no inducement
and little encoura cement to us, nor would
II result 10 a solution Of our difficulties. 1t
10 not sufficient answer TO say that because
question was arbitrated three years ago
the same question would not be a proper
subject for Investigation at this time. There
fore we cannot agree to eliminate from
our original proposition some of the features
which seem Objectionable to you.
However. in order to remove from our
selves and from those We represent even
the suspicion OF obduracy. we have amended
Ulr TTOposition;
First BY striking from the heading OF
our first demand the words United Mine
Workers of America" and inserting in lieu
thereof the words. anthracite mine workers"
making the section read as follows: 1t ia
hercb" agreed bet y cen the representative
of The anthracite mine workers and the
various anthracite operating companies that
the following wages, rates. hours OF labor
and conditions of employment shall become
Affective April /, 1905, and continue In enec
until April /. 1907.
second BY eliminating section 4 OF the
miscellaneous demands. which reads al
follows.
la order To provide funds for the ex.
ronditures incurred by the miners organ nj.
ration for carrying ont this agreement II
is hereby agreed by the mine workers OF
the anthracite regions and the operators
the PARTIES to this contract. that each COM
Tany shall collect from each employee suot
amounts as may be levied by the organi'
cation monthly. the amounts thus collected
a. each Colliery to be turned over to an au'
thori7ed committee at the colliery."
And in substituting in lieu thereof thiI
tec'Ion'
For the purpose of executing this agree.
npnt, or the award Of the commission pro
vided for herein, the companies shall deduc
from the wages Of every employee au
thorlzing them 10 do so any amount desig
mated in the authorization The amounts 81
collected shall be paid over to The person o.
Persons empowered TO receive them"
Nou will thus obser We that we have removed
two seemingly nsurmountable obstacles anc
have relieved YOU OF the necessity OF consider
ing further what YOU are pleased to teru
Fundamental principles.
With these mod ihcations we submit agar
our original proposition for your considera
ton. and il unacceptable TO you in the form Il
which II is h herewith presented. we agree. sub
iect to the following changes. to accept you
proposal providing for an investigation an
en- adjudication by the Anthracite Coal Strik
Commission.
First Your proposal for a continuance o
the award Of the Anthracite Coal Strike Com
mission, and the amended proposition sub
nitted herewith, shall be referred for arbitra
ment to the commission appointed by tn
President Of the United States at the close O
the anthracite strike Of 1902. Should any q
these gentlemen decline TO serve, the Pres
dent, II he is willing to accept this responsi
hii'H, shall MI by appointment such vacanc
or vacancies.