New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-10
THE WILLCOX LETTER.
Tcrt of Railroad Presidents Reply
to John Mitchell.

President David Wilcox Of the Delaware and
Hudson Company gave out yesterday the text
q his letter TO President Mitchell Of the United
Mine Workers agreeing TO a conference. In
tie letter he gives his ideas TO the stand OF
the employers. The letter has been printed in
pamphlet form II was learned yesterday that
the letter was warmly Endorsed at the meeting
OF craI presidents last Tuesday and accepted
as a true presentation of the stand they will
take. At the Offices of the various coal presi-
dents il was accepted as their general sentiment
yesterday.
After saying that he is willing. with the other
coal presidents. 10 meet Mr.. Mitchell in this
city February l., he reminds Mr.. Mitchell
that the Anthracite Strike Commission. which
appointed after the strike of 1902 found
that the average hours actually worked day
did not exceed six for the miners and eight for
the other employees He says the present con-
diuons are substantially the same. Any change
in this direction looked for by the employees
would not be a diminution in the actual hours
Of labor but an increase in the rate hour of
10 per cent. he says. He considered no changes
necessary, as the strike commission covered
everything and after the strike awarded sub
stanual increase in wages.
In table which is appended to the letter Mr..
Wilcox also shows from the annual report OF
Pennsylvania for the year 1904 the great DIFF
ference in the earnings Of the anthracite and
mtuminous miners. The report shows that all
classes Of anthracite employees earned % per
cent more than the bitumnous employees. 1t is
probable that the coal presidents Will meet
again before Nj Mitchell comes here.
The text Of Mr.. WillooX's letter. which is dated
Febru2ry g. follows:
Further referring 10 your letter to myself dated
December p 1905. which has been heretofore &C
hnoWlc4ged. understand that the 10th inst has
been suggested the date for the conference pro-
I,lTea therein accordingly write 10 say that this
VII be aEreee bio 70 me. II appropriate also
~ c5 attention 10 the situation in the anthracite
INDUSTRY arising from the fact that practically all
. ~. involved nave already been the subject
IN which ali parties joined, il provided that all
49, \. W. s-hplgyes should be decided by the
iaHite Strike Commission. Accordingly. you
eaPT5aItd before the commission in behalf of the
Tto co --4 PRESENTED 10 II all such questions
nc commission found that the average hours
.s.LallE worked per day did exceed six for the
ln.le.S ana eight for the other employees, and the
- -- eoRollons are substantially the same In
GG.rliiG 1870 the average number OF hours worked
TSss Iy ne employees other than the miners was
eIle5 hours day; the average number Of hours
e, Uheo gay by the miners was e.55s hours or an
S-ioes OF slightly over six and one half hours q
esy. , Any suggestion of eght-hour day for tho
5iloS IS oy me day does not. therefore look TO
einlhuuon Of actual hours OF la Dor as thew DO not
:. eI4ee eight hours a day, but merely 10 change
T wages by increa sing the rate an how So as 10
So ,a.ce me wages about 125 per cent above the
Ts.e 1890 hhed by the strike commission This ad-
1 49, t9n OF coal or on the entire product about
Sspp1 year Such increase would tend TO
stE.ance the price Of coal consumers II would
-, IetVfally lead ultimately TO the miners work
. - sleht hours day, instead Of much less than
.eEth' as a. present. so as 70 make = uniform
,,S Jay lot all ana thus promote efficiency i'm
boSrs 20 H. on the other hand if the working
1bs 81. % tHe breakers were in fact actually reduced
,bs y~i,arrs HHollu De 20 diminish the earnings az
- i-lneIh' because the breakers Could 80 ,a,,,
TT The ai@ HnIn, rs much coal at present
% Der cen, To- re a"atded an advance in wages OF
re otser empoyes effective NoySnb a cent ,d d9G
~ ms a9.alce vas absolute. and was bsd lSoZ
ne nnong OF - ., ton OF the nTer. nasea upon
tin i III Iii 10, %atsr price prevailing In d6
Sun further advance cent with wages es should