The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-12

We might Justly say that. with the export
ence OF the past three years, the ten hour
day should be restored: but we arc willing
to abide by the decision Of the commission.
1T Is well known that the miners do not
averag e eight hours a day, and therefore the
rejection of this demand does not Affect
them, neither can Il be seriously oontended
that the average time OF other employees
IS excessive. Your contention, therefore,
Is simply. this That the time ia to be re-
duoed to eight hours without a correspond
ing decrease in days day, and in addition
thereto you demand an increased price per
day for fewer hours WORK.
WAGE RMA WOULD MEAN HIGHER COAL.
The operators point out that a uniform
scale Of wages throughout the entire region
would be impractiosble by reason OF the
varying capacity of the workmen and the
varying conditions existing In the region
and at the oollieries. Each colliery Is a prob
lem by itself, es the exhaustive examination
made by the Strike Commission revealed.
The demand for higher pay, the reply
says, lie a proposition to change tho system
Of wages established by the Strike Com-
mission by enormously increasing the
amounts payable both absolutely and I'm
der the sliding scale, and that as theinoreas
can In no way be applied to the steam sizes
of anthracite on account of competition
with bituminous coal the whole burden
of the advanced cost would have to be
borne by the domestic sizes. This would
mean a jump, the operators say, OF S2O
q ton in broken, egg. stove and chestnut
coal. Continuing the letter says:
MINERS NOW WELL PAID.
aThe pa yrolls of our companies show
that the employees are now being paid ex-
oeptionally high wages as compared with
the wages paid to employees engaged in
any like industry in this or any other coun-
try. There can be no room here for dis
pute.
"In the official report of George W. Hart
lein, secretary and treasurer OF the ninth
district, and one of your committee, he
shows that the company man Is receiving
per year, "a total Of S6jo.41, or $685. 81 more
than what he received in $780, He also
shows that the contract miner is earning
per year 1888 10, or S4i3, y mora than he
received in 1892
9Th suggestion that we agree that no
contract miner shall have moro than one
working place at the same time and shall
not have more than two laboreTs at the
same time strikes us most unfa vorably.
We have no legal or moral right to establish
such arbitrary rules. Men must be free
to act for themselves. Where the con-
ditions are such as to safely permit men
to work we cannot consent to limiting the
ability and ambition Of Industrious men
by arbitrarily agreeing to restrict their
o~pportunities to earn increa sed remunera-
ton.
-We cannot increase wages without ad-
vancing the price of coal; and We are not
willing to advance the price of coal. You
may reply that we took this same position
in 1900 and 1902. So We did. We could
not OF our own accord have advanced
the price OF coal; but by the aid Of the pub
lie you succeeded in getting wages raised,
and thereby compelled us to advance the
price OF coal in order to pay the demands
you made upon us
CAN PAY BY WEIGHT ALWAYS.
In regard to the demand that the existing
method should he changed and the coal
paid for on a uniform basis of a ton of
2,240 pounds, the reply says that no reason
has ever been suggested why il is not quite
as proper to pay by measure as by weight.
After a careful consideration Of the matter
the strike commission decided against the
demand and refused to disturb existing
conditions. The operators can see no
reason for a change now.
LAW AGAINST UNION COLLECTIONS
In answer to the demand that the COM
panies deduct from each mans wages the
amount of his dues in the union the reply
points out that the avs of Pennsylvania
require the payment Of the full amount OF
wages or earnings in cash, the only eScep-
ton being in the matterof paying the wages
of check weighmen or check meaSurers.
Continuing the reply says.
sin other words. there Is no law per-
hitting us to deduct money for any gem
eral purpose; but where the employees
agrees with US land this must be a personal
agreement, and for safetvtmust be by writ
ten order of the Employed, we may make a
deduction to pay check ~weighmen or check
measures. As a matter of policy we would
not make such an agreement as yo" re-
Quest, and as a matter of law we are not
permitted to make 1t. Your checkoi
system works u~njustly to the non-.inion
man. We have consistently refused T."
make anv deductions from the mems wages,
They must be left at liberty TO do with their
earnings as they please, and under no
circumstance will we make it a condition
oil employment that such sums shall he
collected
C~oNcILIAT1oN nc r VPHELO,
1.-THE letter declares that the complaint
OF the union officials that the board of
Cancellation does not act promptly, thereby
causing unusual delays, is not warranted
by the facts. The records Of the board
show that in the three years of its existence
only 1s cases came before it, of which
seventy-three were either not sustained
or were withdrawn.
In fact, there were only seven cases
where the awards were in favor OF the
men which were not settled or disposed OF
within three months. In all cases where
decisions have been in favor of the men
they were retroactive and the men re-
ceived full compensation from the date OF
the grievance.
1T is, of course" saws the reply. i'm
possible to decide those controversies at
sight. Some Investigation and earnest
consideration is required 10 decide any
H