The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-04-11

They share in the profits when the price advance. and they suffer no loss when the price declines. for their wages are fixed on minimum basis.
 Under these conditions. there seems to be no Justification for an arbftra- tion to determine the question or wages.
 Coal Would Go Up.
 Your propositions moreover, cover various methods of increasing wages to such an extent that the prices of all coal would be increased. the in- crease on domestic sizes running as high as $1.20 per ton. In the absence of convincing proof of the necessity. we are opposed to any action which will have the effect of increasing the present price of anthracite coal.
 The board of conciliation to which you have asked that all these serious questions be referred was not created for any such purposes. It was de- signed as a minor tribunal and to give effect to the awards the commission made and to determine the controver- sies arising hereunder.
 Your suggestion of a reopening of the entire controversy before the com ciliation board Is open to the most serious objection. Three members or the board are district presidents of the United Mine Workers and members of your committee. They are thus sug- gesting the choice of themselves as arbitrators. But they are by their membership of your committee already committed to the support of your prop ositions and against our propositions that present conditions continue
 If is true that three members or the board of conciliation represent the operators. but this shows merely that the entire membership of the board IS deeply Interested in the result and therefore disqualified from acting. The arbitration suggested by you would be practically be by one man, namely. the umpire, whose personality Is uncertain.
 Moreover, the decision of these ques- tions necessarily involves the further and most important one of all, that Is. increased price of coal to the consum- Ing public. A board of arbitration con sisting so largely of your representa- lives and ours would hardly be consid- cred by the public a proper one to pass on this question.
 suggestion is Declined.
 For the reasons stated. we. tnere- fore. decline your suggestion to re- fer the questions decided by the an tracite coal strike commission to the Board of Consolidation.
 Our proposition to continue to work under the award of the Anthracite Coal Strike Commission seems to us under all circumstances a fair and just one.
 It is, however. possible, though we are convinced to the contrary, that some new conditions have arisen to change the award of the commission in matters not relating to the funda- mental principles. but to wages and the adjustment of complaints.
 Wo are willing that these subjects should be examined by impartial per- sons. We, therefore. propose the fol- lowing course:
 The members of the Anthracite Strike Commis ssion, or such of them as may be able and willing to act (not less than a majority of the whole mum ber) shall be requested to decide whether any changes in the conditions of the anthracite industry have occur red since the award of the Anthracite Coal strike Commission. which requires that the award should be modified as to the following subject, and If so. what that modification shall be;
 Ai---As to wages. or rates. of payment of the employees by way of increase or reduction. tt
 As to the adjustment of conn plaints through the Consolidation Board. or otherwise.
 Any party so desiring shall pre- 
 mission, stating the same in detail.
 Work shall be resumed at once. The award shall be effective from April l.. 1906, and the present award of the commission, with any modification thus made. shall continue in effect until March 3f, 1909. Three years are sug- gested because that time has beer found satisfactory in the present case and also because this would avoid in- At,a nnaaft1no . the political question and considera@ tions of a Presidential campaign.
 Pay of Commissioners.
 The members of the commission shall be paid such compensation foz services and expenses as may be fixed by themselves.
 The operators shall furnish one half of the same and your committee shall furnish the other half.
 Yours respectfully. George F. Baer, W. Fl. Truesdals, J. B. Keer. David Wilcox. Morris Williams. F. B. Thomas, J. I. Cake. Committee.
 After the proposal had been read President Mitchell asked whether the anthracite operators would have the privilege of asking the committee to reduce present wages and he was in formed that they would.
 In reply to another question he was
  cepted, the first offer of the coal com panies to continue for three years the award of the strike commission would collapse.
 The members of the commission are Judge George Gray. United States Cir cult Court. Wilmington, Del; Carroll D Wright. former United States Com missioner of Labor and now president of Clark College, Worcester, Mass; Brig. General John M. Wilson, retired. Washington; Bishop J. I. Spalding. Peoria, ul.; Edgar E. Clark, Cedar Rapids. Iowa, grand chief of the order of Railway Conductors; Thomas H. Watkins. Scranton. Pa. formerly an anthracite coal operator but now larger producer of soft coal in Central Pennsylvania: E.. w. Parker. Wash ington.
 If the strike commission Is called to settle the dispute 1t is not probable that Bishop Spalding will be able to serve as he Is said to have just passed through a serious illness.
 President Mitchell of the miners un- ion first learned that the Independent operators had sent communication to the president of the coal carrying railroads after returning to his head quarters. When a copy of the letter was shown him he read 1t with keen in- terest. He would not comment on it but it is not believed that he will let the communication go unanswered,
 Letter of Independence.
 The letter of the independent oper2- tors to the operators committee in full Is as follows:
 Wilkesbarre. Pa. April 2, 1906. Messrs Baer. Truesdale, and Others,
 Committee,