The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-11
But Not on MItCheII's Terms
Would Limit Discussion
TO Two Points.
INDEPENDENTS PROTEST.
Any Arbitration, They Say, 10 a
Submission to Anarchy and
Mob Violence.

Operators submit a Counter Proposal THAI
the Roosevelt Commission Decide IL
Its Award Shall he Modified with
Reference to Wages Either by Way Of
Increase or Reduction and as to the
Cancellation Board-Miners Win Urge
Eight Hour Day D~emand-Letter OF
Independents Says Violence Has Begun.
In the face of a strongly worded protest
from the independent interests in the an
thraoite coal industry against any ar
bitration, the coal operators replied yesters
day to the proposal Of John Mitchell and
his committee with a counter proposition
in which they agree to arbitrate just two
Of the miners seven demands. These
are the question of wages and the recon-
%struction of the present Cancellation board.
The operators are unwilling that the
Cancellation board, which is one of the
subjects in dispute, shall be the arbitrator,
but propose the members Of the Anthracite
Strike Commission or such OF them as will
serve. They would have the members OF
this commission first decide whether new
conditions have arisen j%ustifying any
change in their award of three years ago.
II they decide that there has, the operators
would restrict the inquiry to the check Off
system and recognition of the union
Furthermore, the operators propose that
In the arbitration of the wage question the
question Of a reduction shall be considered
as we'll as that OF an increase, giving them
the chance to show that the payment OF
the present wages Is not justified by recent
trade conditions.
The propo sition to thus limit the scope
Of the inquiry by ar arbitr alton board 10
not at all pleasing to the miners, particu-
larry as it ~disregards the eight hour day.
The answer of the miners is to be made
on Thursday at 1880 P. NJ. 1t is practically
certain that they will ask for an amendment
giving the arbitrators the right to take up
the eight hour demand; anyway. They
are willing to accept the anthrac lite commits.
sion In place Of the Cancellation board.
THE OPERATORS PROPOSAL.
"The members of the Anthracite Coal
Strike Commission. or such OF them as may
be willing to act mot less thar a majority
Of the whole number), shall be requested to
decide whether any changes In the oon-
ditions Of the anthracite industry have
occurred since the award Of the anthracite
-k-;I.o examination xuhtoh ra1,i{NaA that fhA
award should be modified, a. to the follow
ing subjects, and, II So what the modth-
cations should be.
Il. AS to a or rates Of payment OF
the employees, either by way Of increase
or reduction.
.. As to adjustments OF complaints
through the o%onciliation board or otherwise.
ANY party 80 desiring shall present hs
claim In writing to the commission, stating
the same in detail.
sWork shall be resumed al onoe. QhO
award shall be effective from April II 1908!
and the present award OF the commission
with any modification thus made shAli
continue IN effect until March 81 1909.
Three years are suggested because that
time has been found satisfactory In the
present case. and also because this would
avoid introducing into purely business
questions the political considerations Of Q
Presidential campaign.
aThe members of the commission shall be
paid such compensation for services and
expenses as shall be fixed by themselves.
The operators shall furnish one-half OF the
came and your committee shall furnish the
other half"
In their proposition the miners suggested
that the decision Of the arbttrators should
be binding for two years, or until March 81
1908.
This reply Of the operators was made at q
meeting which was held at l:so yesterday
afternoon at the offices Of the Trunk Line
Association at 14S Liberty street. The
reply, it 10 understood, was drawn up on
Saturday. The postponsment Of the meet
ing on Monday was due to the fact that the
independent operators had called a meeting
for Monday to take action on the arbitra-
ton proposition.
At this meeting the protest was drawn
up which was presented to the operators
committee yesterday by Mr.. Cake, the
independents representative on the On
ference committee. Its vigorous tone
caused general mime yesterday. This
lie their statement:
~lPRoTEsT Of vHE INDEPENDENTS.
'The independent operators, most Of
whom are residents OF the anthracite pro-
ducing counties Of Pennsylvania. desire
10 express their firm conviction that any
agreement TO arbitrate with the United
Mine Workers viii be an unjustfable sur.
render TO anarchy and mob violence.
'Far moro important than the wages OF
the miners and the profits OF operators 10
the preservation OF civil rights and the
maintenance Of an orderly government.
None Of us has forgotten the fearful events
OF the strike Of 1902, when men who desired
or were compelled by family necessity to