The Oskaloosa herald., 1906-07-19
SOFT COAL MINERS
WILL RESUME WORK
LONG STRIKE IN PENNSYLVANIA
tAMIcABLY SETTLED.
SCALE or 1908 RESTORED
Provides That Men Shall Not Quit
Pending Adjustment Of Differ
ences Regarding Interpreta-
ton of the Agreement.

Harrisburg, Pa, July 1.-THE men
In the collieries of the Central Penn
sylvania bituminous coal district num-
bering nearly 1000 who have been
idle since April /, when the mines
closed down because the operators
would not restore the scale of 1908.
will resume work on practically the
same scale as 1905.
The agreement to do this was made
Friday in conference that was at
tended by prominent operators, Pres
ident John Mitchell and Secretary
Wilson of the United Mine Workers
of America, and representatives Of
the districts ip the affected territory,
conference was held IL Philadelphia
on Tuesday on which terms were
made and these were submitted to the
districts which sent their men here
to ratify them.
The session lasted six hours and
after much discussion principally on
the open shop" and the method of
collecting the check-weighman's fund,
the following scale was agreed upon:
Test Of the Agreement.
First. Pick mining per gross ton
&C cents; per net ton 58.S5 cents; ma
chine loading shall be five-ninths OF
the pick price plus one-half cent and
cutting and scraping whether by the
ton, day or task, will be advanced
$40 per cent above the price paid in
1905.
"All other day wages and monthly
men both inside and outside the
mines, and all yardage shall be adj
vanced 5.85 per cent. above the rates
paid during the scale year ending
March 81, 1906, except all mechanics
and skilled labor who are to be paid
such prices as shall be mutually
agreed upon between the undersigned
and the mechanics employed.
Coke men to receive an advance
Of 5.S5 per cent. over the rates dur
ing the scale year of 1905.
Secure Eight-Hour Day.
Second. Eight hours Of actual
work at place of work shall consti-
tute days work for all labor inside
the mines, except pumpmen and
monthly men, who shall work the
number of hours required. 1t is un-
derstopd and agreed however that
the trip-riders, motormen, drivers and
cagers shall work the extra time re-
CURED to clean up and deliver out
side all coal gathered from working
places through the side tracks with
in the eight hours of actual work and
all be paid for such extra time work
at the rates per hour herein agreed
upon. All outside labor to work the
number of hours required and to be
paid as per rates specified.
Third. There is to be no change
of working conditions and customs
under this scale from such conditions
and customs as have applied at this
mine and have been in practice there
at during the scale year ending
March 81. 1906"
Scale for Machine Loading.
In addition to the adoption of the
scale the following agreement was
entered into for machine loading:
"That during the term of this agree.
ment it is agreed that the price of
machine loading shall be 37.9 cents
per gross ton or 1886 cents per net
ton"
The other provisions are: Amy
regularly employed miner may, at his
option, authorize deductions from
coal mined, for use of a check weigh
mans fund, such amount Of coal as
he may elect to subscribe, provided
such authority is duly executed in
writing by each individual miner, and
such authorization releases the COM
pany from all liability from account
thereof. There shall be no collec-
ton from day labor by the companies
from day labor working in mines OF
outside. The collection Of coal fol
check weighman's fund shall be col
lected for sheets on tipples.
1.-THE right to hire and discharge
the management of the mine and the
direction Of the working force are
vested exclusively in the operator ant
the U. NJ. w. shall not abridge thai
right. 1t is not the intention of this
provision to encourage the discharge
of employees, or the refusal of EN-
ployment to applicants because Of
personal prejudice or activity in mat
tiers affecting the U. M. w. Of A.
Provides for Arbitration.
Should differences arise undel
this agreement, between the employ
ers and employees touching the prop
er Interpretation Of any Of its pro
visions, there shall be no suspension
of work on account thereof, but an
earnest effort to settle such differ
ences shall be made.
The agreement is regarded as
compromise, the miners getting tn
wage advance, and the operators thu
open shop, arbitration and checl
weighman points.
National Secretary Wilson whel
asked regarding the agreement an,
scale made, said: 1.-THE thing tina
gratifies us is that it gives us the
1903 scale of wages and that is al
we commended for"
Pays Penalty for Murder.
Towson, Md, July 14.-Harold e