The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-03-28
SOFT COAL CONFERENCE
 ADJOURNS UNTIL TO-DAY
NOTHING APPROACHING AN AGREEMENT ON 4 WAGE
 SCALE.

Mitchell Opens Discussion After Joint
 Committees Report of Inability to
 Reach a SettIement-Declares He Ex-
 pected Some Proposition from the
 OperatOrs-Thinks They Should Ex-
 plain Their Position in View of Fact
 That One Large Producing State Has
 Agreed to the Scale Asked.
 Indianapolis, March 27.-The joint scale committee of the bituminous coal operators of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and western Pennsylvania to-day reported a disagreement to the joint conference of the central competitive district, and after session of three hours the con- ference adjourned to meet tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock.
 The discussions and arguments pre- scented during the afternoon established the fact that, so far as indications can determine, the opposing sides are no nearer to a wage agreement than they were in January, when the first confer- ence was held. The present wage scale will expire Saturday, and unless an agreement is reached before it's expira- tion 225,O00 miners in the four states will be called from the mines
 President Mitchell, of the miners, opened the discussion in the joint con- ference, after there had been a silence of ten minutes, during which each side was waiting for the other to make the first move. He said:
 'Mr. Chairman--It was my expecta- tion when we convened here this after noon that some proposition looking to an adjustment of our difficulties would be submitted by the operators. It is evident that they have not agreed among themselves to submit, for the consideration of this convention, any proposition looking to an adjustment of our relations. Every one here who has heard the report read by the secretary of the joint scale committee will know that the miners parties to that joint scale conference have gone out of their way, have even assumed authority not vested in them by the miners conven- tion, to meet the grave and full respon- abilities placed on them, not only as miners, but as countrymen and citizens, by the request and the suggestion of the president of our country. And it will become evident, from the votes re- ported here by at least four of the states, who must and who rightfully shall, assume the responsibility for lsr,s,r sr, ported.
 "One state, one large producing state, has come in here and voted for a restor- alton of the wage scale of 1903. That l state has not only voted it's entire pro- duction, but it has announced in addi- tion thereto the intention to vote it's mines in Ohio and in Illinois in favor of an increase in wages. It seems to me that, instead of sitting quietly, the | gentlemen from the operators side ought to say something in defense of | their position. And accepting all the responsibilities that may come to me without consultation with the gentlemen who employ me, I want to offer for the consideration of this motion that as basis of settlement there be a restoration of the scale, the mining scale and the day. wage scale and the dead-work scale of l9O3."
 J. H. Winder, chairman of the opera tors, offered as a substitute motion to adopt the present scale, with all eondi- tions existing at the time of it's adop- ton, with the mining rate at Danville, H., for base, and to include all cost of shooting, loading, timbering and in- spection of shots.
 After number of speeches by prom nent opponents of each side Phil Penn of the Indiana operators, in a speech the settlement of the differ ences by arbitration. He outlined no definite plan, however, and his sugges- ion was not further discussed.
 An adjournment until tomorrow was taken without vote on any proposi- ion having been taken during the aft srnoon.