Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-26
WITH THE BIG OPERATORS
Robbins Sees No Prospect of ANY Re-
port Today.
DISAGREEMENT TONE EVIDENT
Reports Coming to Delegates From
Local Unions That Coal Companies
Are Getting on Strike Basis.

iNDlA O1<l1p -hAoASh ~ N'-~
representatives OF the bituminous coal ope-
rators and miners of the central competi-
tive and southwest districts resumed their
executive sessions in Joint committees to-
day. Nothing had happened since their
Adjournment Saturday to change the situa-
ton and give any promise of a settlement
Before the meeting OF the joint scale COM
nittee of the central competitive district
closed its doors President Mitchell of the
mine workers said:
1T looks 10 me like an endurance test.
T. l.. Robbins of the operators said:
Il can see no prospect of the joint scale
committee reporting TO Joint conference
today
Disagreement Sentiment.
IL was understood when the committee
adjourned Saturday that disagreement
would be reported TO the joint conference
today.
In fact. a motion was offered at the time
that the joint conference be notified that
the committee could not agree. but an adj
journmeut was had without any action
being had on this motion.
Many OF the operators who had gone
home to spend Sunday returned today on
the early morning trains TO be here Tor the
joint conference should a session De cilleo
during the day.
Reports are coming TO the miners dele
gates from their local unions that tie coal
companies are taking preliminary steps 10
get strike basis. The companies are
calling In the miners account hooks. ac-
cording to these reports, and Withdrawing
credit from the miners al country stores,
pressing collections, and, IN some cases,
threatening eviction.
Reports that the companies are ruiGirg
stockades are without foundation out the
mines being put in the best possible
condition for shutdown. Even should an
l,z. ..i,a st.el,f
bitumlnous and most oC the GnthId cite
mines will close Saturday night. many OF
them to remain closed for sixty days. The
local managers are letting the!r mer know
this. and in many cases telling them that
r strike may as well come. as far as the
companies are concerned.
Recess Until O'clock
The joint scale committee of the central
district adjourned until o'clock on mo-
ton OF Herman Perry, president of the
Illinois miners. The opening session was
productive of nothing. Not a motion was
made nor a proposition offered. There was
no discussion. Miners and operators
throughout the session sat in small groups
chatting in low tones, 1t was further sub
sanitation of the sta tement that both sides
are playing a waiting game.
The adjournment of the committee till
o'clock est ablished the fact that there would
be no report to the joint conference today.
i
Workers, said there would be no session of
the conference tomorrow morning. though
one might be held tomorrow afternoon. I'VE
will certainly not get away from here be-
fore Thursday or Friday, if them said he.
J. h. Zerbe of the Ohio operators said.
during the recess: I'VE sat and looked at
each other this morning. Robbins Is hold
ing of hoping the lightning will strike and
that he will win. We who are opposed to
the position taken by Mr. Robbins have
shown concluslvely that we are determined
TO maintain our stand.
The Robbins Proposition.
III Mr.. Robbins wants TO pay the in
crease. we think 1t would equalize con-
do so in western Pennsylvania and letting
us run the present scale in Ohio, In
diana and possibly Illinois. Last year the
coal tonnage in Ohio decreased 1905 900 tons,
while Pennsylvania and West Virginia
neighboring states, had enormous increases
In tonnage. In 1904, the Ohio tonnage de-
creased $4,000 tons. while Pennsylvania
and West Virginia had large increases.
These figures show the unequal conditions
Indiana Is in about the same condition as
Ohio. Allowing Ohio and Indiana to run
on the present scale with the advanced
scale paid in western Pennsylvania would
do much toward equalizing these con-
ditious'
A Report Denied.
President Mitchell of the United Mine
Workers of America this afternoon denied
e. report that he had requested an extern
sion for sixty days of the award of the
coal strike commission in the anthracite
circle. Said he: II have not taken that
matter I'D at all yet"