Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-21
REVOLUTION IN MINING.
Predicted Result of Readjustment Of
Wages and Conditions.

NEW YORK, March 21.--rhe demands of
the anthracite mine workers for a read
justment of wages and conditions in the
anthracite fields would, If granted by the
operators, mean a veritable revolution in
mining conditions, according to state
ment issued by the operators committee of
seven today. The statement declares 1t to
be a mistake to assume that an eight-hour
day and a 10 per cent wage increase repre-
sents the sum total of the demands of the
miners.
THE new and uniform scale" says the
statement, would place every man on the
same basis, increasing the wages of some
men as much as $50 per cent. The avera &c
increase under the uniform scale would be
nearly 30 per cent for outside men The
proposed schedule would mean a yeritabie
revolution in mining conditions"
The statement says that the miners insist
upon uniform wage scale for l43 separate
and distinct classes of workman about the
mines For years. 1t continues, 1.-The op-
orator and employe have recognized the
different value of labor in different local.
ties and even in different sections of the
same coliery. Yet now the miners COM
mlttee demands equal ray for the engineer
VINO runs a little 10-horse power engine
and the man who has a giant engine in r's
charge. They allow no more for the men
working under great difficulties ard dan
gers thah Tor the same class OF workers at
posts OF ease and simplicity"
According to the statement masons in the
Mahanoy and Shamokin division would have
their wages increased Ill per cent under
tne new rate proposed by the miners COM
mittee. They now receive ia cents per
hour and demanded 371a. Some screen tend
ers In the Sioux mine In the same division
who now receive 1919 cents per hour would
receive an increase of III per cent under
the new rate. The wages of blacksmiths
would be increased 81 per cent bumpers
would receive - per cent increase and
platemen would get within 1 cent of double
the wages they now command
The statement adds: "Other similar in
stances are numerous Under the new de-
nands hundreds of employees would receive
better than their present pay. There are
W3tchmen, whose wages now range from
e.1 to 19.2 cents hour, some of whom
would have 140 per cent added. There are
screen and picker bosses and car oilers who
would profit g3 per cent trackmen who
would do even per cent better than that.
There are leaders who would get within a
cent of $2.2O and breaker oilers who would
receive $2.U4, and sweepers who would re-
ceive S1.19 for every dollar they earn now
In a gwen number of hours
The sweeping demands OF the mine work
ers would double the wages of many In
side men, While the general average of In
cleese for inside day laborers would ap-
proximate 22.8 per cent and most of the
men thus employed would receive under the
schedule at issue advances OF one-fifth to
one-Quarter in their pay. there would be a
great many men and boys working at the
easier tasks involving less responsibility and
Hess danger who would have their wages
doubled
''There are seven pumpmen at the Haze
ton No. mine of the Lehigh division in the
Lehigh valley district that would profit
1GI per cent