The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-02-10
SAYS MINERS ASK
TOO BIC ADVANCE
Coal Operator Declares All Mat.
ters Involved Have Been
Arbitrated Before.
CHANGE ASKED WOULD
MEAN 81 1900, 900 YEARLY
David Wilcox of Delaware &
Hudson Company Writes
Letter to Mitchell.

NE" 1Ofh, fcD. 3.-trOl. DdNlu WIFI d.
cox of the Delaware & Hudson company
today made public the text OF the letter
which he wrote to John Mitchell. president
OF the United M.ne-Workers OF America.
concerning Il conference between the mine
workers and the operators to discuss the
| wage question. In his letter Mr.. Wilcox
says that practically all matters at pres
cDt involved have already been the sub
| ject of arbitration by the anthracite strike
commission. He says that In 1902-'03 the
commission found that the average hours
actually worked per day did not exceed
| six for the mners and eight for the other
| employees, and the present conditions are
| substantially the same.
Work Less Than Eight Now.
In the case. Of the Delaware Hudson
| company during 1905 the average number
OF hours worked per day by the employees.
| other than the miners. was about seven
and one-quarter hours per day. the ay-
| craSe number of hours worked per day
| by the miners was slightly over six and
onc-haif hours per day. Any suggestion
| OF an eight-hour day for the employees
| by the day does not. therefore, look TO
! dImlnution OF actual hours Of labor, as
| they do not now average eight hours per
| day, but merely TO a change OF wages by
! increasing the rate per hour so as TO ad-
| vance the wages about 12.5 per cent above
the standard fixed by the strike commits
| sion.
Change Means 81, 100000 Yearly.
This advance would amount approx
mntely TO cents per ton OF coal. or.
upon the entire product. about s4,Sl0,OO0
per annum.
Mr Wilcox devotes much space to an
ans STe tending Snf a shGw ,o that nat eond
OF the strike commission. He continues
1t Is true that the award of the strike
COZ mission ceases to be absolutely con-
trolling as 10 future conditions after
March 81, 1906. but Its decision, after pro-
| trdcted investigation, must be regarded by
any other tribunal and by all dsinterested
| persons conclusive n hA nj of
some new facts raising new questions
Resort to Arbitration.
I'm case II should be necessary 20 resort
TO arbitration in reference to any matter
not already covered by arbitration. and
therefore for the purpose OF supplement-
ing the award OF the commission II there
be any such matter. it would appear nat
ural 10 request the members OF the strike
commission TO act so that any further
award might be in harmony with that al
ready made. All arrangements necessary
| In the promises could be made through
members OF the Cancellation board. as they
| represent all parties.
The conditions established by the
strike commission followed after serious
| controversy, We're tho result OF probably
the most conscientious and exhaustive eX-
| animation ever given TO any labor contro-
yersy' on the whole. however. proved sat
isfactory and have not even been the SUBJ
Joct OF serious criticism.
Don't Want New Methods
1T therefore does not seem desirable
| TO abandon the results reached with such
difficulty and so valuable I'm themselves.
and resort to new methods which are un-
certain and difficult. AS already said
there Is no association or organization OF
the producers OF anthracite coal. but even
II there were any arrangement between
parties purportlng to represent all the
| employers upon the side and other
| parties purportlnR TO represent all the
employees upon the other side, might be
| subject to the charge OF ilegality. and
| might not commend itself to public conf
| dence.
Wants to Avoid Difficulties.
These suggestions are made In the In
| terest OF the public and OF all the parties,
| for the purpose OF avoiding future diff
culties by continuing whatever beneficial
results followed from the settlement OF
| the strike OF 1902. 1t is earnestly hoped
| that they Will commend themselves TO the
best judgment OF all as the proper course.
and as far wiser than entering upon new
and uncertain methods OF procedure"
An Individual Letter.
In speaking Of the above utterances Mr.
| Wilson eaid tonight,
| THE letter was not In the nature OF an
| ultimatum. and II Is an individual letter
| only, expressing my own views sent per
sonally to Mitchell. in order that no may
| know where we stand. What the outcome
of the conference | would not predict We
take It for granted that the officers of tho
union are not looking for a strike.
| The officers of the Civic Federation took
| the stand yesterday that the miners are
a long way from a strike. No appeal has
yet been made to the Civic Federation 10
| use It's offices as mcditaors.
| Suggests Arbitration.
| Ralph NJ. Easley, chairman OF the ma
| tional executive committee OF the CIVIC
| Federation. said
| Matters have not reached the stage
where arbitration could be called for'
| Both the anthracite and bltuminous rui-
| ners are Represented In the Civic Fedora
tlon Among the anthracite men In inc
| Civic Federation Is F, D, Underwood.
| president of the Erie railroad. Francis l."
Robbins of PIttsburg may be said to rep
| resent the soft coal interests. There seems
| TO be a misleading impreSsio Ion that he-
cause the soft coal miners convention
| has adjourned without any agreement be
| ing reached. there may be a st,ike at any
| time There VIII be no strike In any
| case until April l. Two years ago the con-
| ference OF soft coal miners adjourned slne
die with both sides at loggerheads. YET
both sides came together TWO months Il,
tcr and n settlement was renched, 1t Is
NOT safe to predict that a strike VIII tske
nlnce where there arc nearly TWO montnS
ahead with the possibilities OF settle
ment."