The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-08
DISCUSS MINERS DEMANDS.
OPERATORS MEET AND HEAR
From THE INDEPENDENTS.
Net Vet Ready TO Reject Tn TotO MItcher's
Request for ArbttratiOn-One RmoP
10 THAT Roosevelt VIII ne Asked 10
Reappotnt Old Strike Commission.

heNHoD+ ~ - 0AhB
10 Thae Roosevelt VIII Ne Asked 70
Reappoint Old Strike Commission.
The confeTencO committee of seven
Of the anthracite operators to consider ;
Mitchell's arbitration proposition went
into session yesterday afternoon at 1870
o'clock IN the Office Of President Thomas
Of the Lehigh Valley Railroad and sd-
journed at $40 to meet again tomorrow
at moor before the confercnos with tbs
miners begins. j. l.. Cake, who represents
the independent operators on the COM
mittee and who had attended a meeting
Of the independent operators the day be-
fore In Wilkesbarre, was present, as were
also the supe1ntendents Of a number Of
anthracite collieries and Robert w. Ds
Forrest, first vice-president and counsel
Of the jersey Central company.
At the meeting Mr.. Cake stated the general
sentiments of the independent operators
on the question of Mitchell's arbitration
proposition, and many questions wers ,
asked of the mine superintendent.
None Of the operators would talk Of this
proceedings or indicate the probable policy
they will adopt. From the fact that they
arc to meet again before they confer with
Mitchell's committee it is assumed that
some of them were in favor of at least
submitting to arbitration the question
whether there were any points not covered
by the award of the anthracite strike
commission which might still be decided
by a joint conference.
There was a rumor that the operators
will propose that the whole matter be
turned over to the arbitration COMMITTEES
appointed by President Roosevelt in 1902.
this committee to formulate a new agree
ment to run for a term Of years.. and that
President Roosevelt be asked Il fill the
vacancies of such members as decline to
serve. No one would confirm this rumor.
President Mitchell of the United Minis
Workers was asked at the Ashland Houss
how he explained his apparent moon
s~istency In asking the anthracite operators
for arbitration Inc refusing an arbitra-
ton proposition from the soft coal opera
tors. He replied:
Il have not said that l do not wish for
arbitration in the soft coal districts, but
I have no power; that is a matter for the
executive board. / have no right to an
ticipate any personal action before the
meeting of the national executive COM
mittee on April H.
He was then asked il he would be willing
to submit to arbitration the question
whether or not there are any arbitrabis
points or new facts not covered by the
award OF the anthracite strike commission
I'VE will be glad to discuss with the
operators any phases of arbitration they
care to consider, " he replied. Our only
desire is to come to some amicable settle
ment which will prevent a long strike"
The steamship companies are looking for
ward ~anxiously to the joint convention OF
the soft coal operators and miners in the
Clearfield district of Pennsylvania on Tues
day, as the steamships are supplied with
soft coal from the Clearfield collieries
G. j. Wittenberg, president of the New
River Galleries Company, which has also
some collieries in the Clearfield district.
said yesterday hat the demands Of the
miners there were eXtravagant.
They demand, he said, an increase in
wages OF from 4 cents to 10 cents a ton,
which would increase the cost of produce
ton 10 cents to rs cents a ton, according to
the thickness of the coal beds. Tho do
mands are so unjust that unless they are ma
terially modified the operators would not
even consider them. In the event of a
hard coal strike, however, the situation
would be changed and there would be a
strong chance that the operators in Clear
field would grant the demands"
There was an a pparent belief among
Mitchell's aides at the Ashland House last
evening that two of the presidents Of tho
coal carrying companies were anxious for
some kind of a settlement with the anthra-
cite miners before the small sizes of an
thracite used for steam purposes becanls
any scaroer. This impression, it was said.
arose from information gained by agents
Of the an thracite miners.