Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-04-18
Anthracite Operators Make Formal Reply
to the Miners --latest Proposal,
L THE PROPOSITIONS ARE REJECTED
Nine Owners Say There is No Reason for
Reopening Settled Questions,
'AY FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES ARE FIXED
Quotations Are Made from President Roose-
velt's Statement Three Years Ago,
BIG INCREASE IN COST OF PRODUCTION


would Add SI,2O Pcr Ton TO Cost
of Mining Domestic
Sizes.
NEW YORK, April IA subcommittee
of presidents Of the anthracite coal carry
ing railroads and mine operators held a
meeting In this city today and drew up a
letter to President John Mitchell Of the
United Mine Workers Of America in which
the operators again declare that there Is
nothing to arbitrate except the question
whether there shall be any arbitration.
This reply is made in response to President
Mitchell's recent amended proposition Of
arbitration, The presidents do not how
ever. refuse point blank to accept Mr..
Mitchells latest plan. They assert that all
the differences between the miners and
their employers have been decided by the
strike commission and that there is no
reason why another attempt should he
made TO arbltrate them.
The fundamental principles regarding
the conduct Of this business have all been
established by the strike commission" the
operators declare.
mo reason is suggested why they should
be retired We have no further suggestions
propositions and we regret that you have
declined both Of them. We have nothing
further to offer"
The operators assert that the miners
offer to waive formal recognition Of the
miners union is not material and declare
that the miners program would increase
the cost Of domestic sizes Of coal 81 20 per
ton.
The letter is as follows:
Text of the Letter.
NEW. YORK, April 17-Mr. John
Mitchell and Others, Committee OF AM
! you assented to the proposition Of the oper-
ators that ''all questions at issue between
| the respective companies and their own
| employees. whether they belong to a union
| or not should be decided by the Anthra-
! cite Coal Strike commission; accordingly
! decided all such questions; therefore we
have heretofore proposed to you that tho
| be continued for term of three years
| the same period as that fixed by the Strike
Your present proposition is that all re-
| lations between every employe and his
employer shall be fixed and controlled by
gested that this should be form OF con-
| tract with the United Mine Workers q
| America" Now you suggest that It shall
| be with your committee as representa-
| tives of the anthracite mine workers"
! Inasmuch as the authority and standing
| OF your committee as representing any
one depend wholly upon it's designation
by convention of the United Mine Work
| It is clear that the change proposed Is
not substantial, but merely formal and
also '7 from on the the fact that your proposition
| contains numerous provisions for action by
GERS OF the United Mine Workers OF
! America.
increases Cost of Production.
This proposition restricts production by
strictly limiting hours of labor and pro
/ than one chamber or have more than two
! laborers; it seeks to equalize wages with
! reference merely TO the name of the en-
ploye's position, and not at all TO his ca
pacity or the work which he actually does;
/ Il provides that no new veins or collierles
to wages and that no contract OF employ
ment can be terminated without an arbi-
! tration; II makes these employers the
! agents of the union to aid It In levying
upon the wages of the employees the dues
crease c in wages and rates of payment
| which would approximate H:b per cent
sGd e szes ESSiG Of ns1Ss cps about 80 per ton and
/ II suggests diluting the present eoncilia-
tion board into three boards having Coz
ordinate powers. II provides sun tprther
/ that the arrangement proposed shall con-
tinue I'm force merely for one year.
The above provisions, other than those
! regarding wages, and the adjustment OF
complaints concern radical ana tunua-
sgement of the business which are vital
to its success. These questions nave al
been settled by the award of the strike
commission Whlch mas estaDHsheu 'he eA-
So Far as concerns the matter Of wages
and adjustment of complaints, we maze
offered TO submit TO the members or the
strike commission the question whether
any changes in conditions have occurred
since the award of the commission requtr-
ing that the award would be modlhed as
to those matters, ana ~ SO. h0w hst The
conditions have changed since the award
Of the commission and as to those no
facts in support of that suggestion have
been made public. But the claim Tor
change in the existing relations must OBJ
tons tons since those relations We're ali es-
tablished by arbitration You nave re-
You now propose that it shall be sub
mitted to the strike commission to decide
amended proposition. which are stated
above. shall be adopted. In other words,
you seek TO have every subject whlch
has been already settled by arbitration re
considered, and every issue retired which
was settled by the strike commission three
junction 10 endeavor to establish tha
relations between the employers and tho
wage earneTs in the anthracite region on
I as possible to do away with any caus $
for these occurrences OF these diihcultles
as those which you have been called upon
- You GU say that 1T is not sufficient answer
Z to say that because a question was arbi-
. trated three years ago. the question would
not be a proper subject for Investigation
. AT this time" II any new acts have
arisen in the meantime these might
Z properly be investigated. Nothing new
. I suggested TO us by your communication.
, But il can scarcely he seriously claimed
: that questions already fully considered
, shall be re-examined because one Of the
. parties thinks 10 may upon reheariug
. secure "A different decision. II that We're
, 80, controversy would never end. Indeed,
. in the present case you propose that lu
order 10 make an arrangement for only
D one years duration the strike commission
shall re-eXamine questions which II took
> six months to decide.
want Three-NeHT Contract
To resume. the Fundamental principles
regarding the conduct Of this business
. have all been established by the strike
commission. No reason Is suggested WHY
they should he retired. As 10 the on s.
matters regarding which you have mad
Y the least suggestion that conditions have
changed, we have suggested that the eN-
. istence and effect Of such change he Cou-
sidered by tho strike commission, ana
y that its award De in force for three years
so that political considerations may have
q as little influence as possible upon these
business questions.
. You are responsible FOR the suspension
Y Of work There Was no good reason for
ordering the men % work pending