Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-04-05
Commissioners Reese for the operators
Indications Are Encouraging.


Although the negotiations are yet in
such shape that it is impossible to say
with any degree of assurance that an
agreement will or will not be made in
Iowa, 1t is reasonable to think that
the former will prove true. Straws
show which way the wind blows, and
several straws may be seen lying
around the joint conference. Yester-
day when Commissioner Reese was
talking On the subject of emergency
men he said that in some districts in
the country 1t will probably take
months to settle upon a scale. Secre-
tary Perry of the miners was on his
feet in a moment with the question:
DO you think that Iowa is one of
those dfstricts?"
"No, do you," came back like a flash
from Reese.
NO" replied Perry in turn, and a
good-natured laugh from both sides of
the hall followed the little colloquy.
Both operators and miners in Iowa
want peace. The operators, though
they will not go on record as admitting
it, seem to expect to sign a scale on
the basis of that of 1903 If they can
get reasonable concessions from the
miners on other propositions than the
mere wage scale. The greatest griey-
ance of which the operators complain
is that the miners in many parts Of
the state insist on quitting work when
ever a disagreement of a local nature
arises. The result is that during the
stoppage there is much loss both On
account of the lack of production and
the depreciation of the property. The
operators propose to insist that when
such differences arise there shall be
no stoppage Of work but that the
mines affected shall be conducted as
usual pending a settlement. 1t is
thought probable that the miners will
agree to grant any reasonable de-
mands on the part CT the operators as
long as the wage scale is settled on
the 1903 basis. In other words. the
outlook for peace in the Iowa coal
fields is very encouraging.
Anthracite Demands Refused.
New York. April 4.-The Shamokin
scale committee of the anthracite min
ers, to which has been entrusted the
task of ~endeavoring to reach a wage
agreement with the mine owners,
went into session today to discuss
what their next move shall be. All
the demands drawn up by the scale
committee have been refused by the
operators and the question to be de-
cided now by the committee Is wheth-
er their propositions shall be modified
or whether the delegates representing
all the hard coal mine workers shall
| hn cY1nno0nod into pnunrofiNp OF 0pon
to decide what further action shall be
taken.
Soon after noon the scale committee
took a recess. No members of the
committee would discuss the nature
of the forenoon discussion.
Pittsburs Field Active.
Pittsburg. April 4.-More mines
were in operation in the Pittsburg
district today than yesterday, but at
none vas a full complement Of min
ers at work. The Pittsburg Coal COM
pany reported forty-three railroad
mines running and eleven idle.
No work is being done at any of the
Independent mines and the operators
say they have been closed down indef-
nitely.
When the question Of continuing
work under the new agreement was
brought before the miners convention
today the delegates went on record as
favoring the 1903 scale as signed by
the Pittsburg Coal company and a
number of other companies in this dis
trict. A committee was appointed to
visit the miners and induce them to
return to work at nee on that basis.
More Trains AnnuIIed.
Des Moines, April 4.-The Minnea.
polls & st. Louis road and the Iowa
Central today announced the annull-
ment of six passenger trains for Sun
day because of the coal shortage.
Car Agreement at Oakland.
Oakland, Cal, April 4.-The car
mems union this morning unanimously
adopted the agreement reached yester.
day between its leaders and represen-
tativs of the street car employers. I'm
der the new order of things the trac-
ton company recognizes not only the
union, but grants all the discharged
! employees the right of appeal before