Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-04-18
MINERS WILLING
TO ARBITRATE
BUT WANT THE WHOLE BusL
NESS SUBMITTED.
OLD COMMISSION TO ACT
Both Sides Near to Agreement That
May Lead to Final Adjustment Of
the Coal District Difficulties
End of the Fight at Hand in
Iowa.

New York, April l2--after having
the counter arbitration plan OF the
anthracite operators under considera-
ton nearly all day. the general scale
committee of the hard coal miners
completed the draft Of their reply and
will present it to the committee OF
mine owners at the joint session to be
held here today. The strictest Sc
crecy surrounded the work of the
committeeman. 1t is believed that
the miners have decided TO accept
the operators offer, that the anthra-
cite strike commission take up the
dispute, but will ask that the tribunal
be permitted 10 consider the original
demands with certain important mod
icfiations.
Concessions said TO have been de-
cided upon are that Instead of the
agreement being entered into be
tween the operators and the united
mine workers of America, it be made
with the anthracite mine workers;
that the checkoff be limited to wage
workers who agree to an assessment
to defray the expenses incurred in
carrying out the miners part of the
agreement instead of all mine work.
ers-union and non union-being com
PEELED to contribute, and that the dur
alton OF the agreement be left to the
commission. The miners in their ar
bitration plan asked for a two-year
agreement and the operators in their
counter proposition wanted one for
three years. II this proposition is
submitted by the miners and accept
ed il would leave the commission
free to take up the demand for an
increase in wages, eight hour day.
uniform pay for all classes Of employ
ment paid by the day or month, re
construction of the Cancellation board
and number OF minor grievances.
The operators want 10 limit the in.
quiry to wages and a method for ad-
justment of complaints
The general scale committee of the
miners held two sessions yesterday.
at which the members discussed the
operators plan Radical committee.
men favored complete rejection of the
operators proposal. outside of that
portion providing that the strike com
missioners be the arbitrators. They
feared that the operators might take
advantage of the clause in the lat.
tiers proposition which gives them
the privilege Of asking the arbitrators
10 reduce wages. AL committeeman
favored the offer for he strike com
mission 10 arbitrata the differences
instead OF the Cancellation board
Peace in Sight in Iowa.
Des Moines. Ia, April 12.-The iowa
mine operators and miners made pro
gress in the scale conference yester-
day, an agreement being reachd for
the first Iowa district for all labor, ex-
cept top. The agreement restores the
scale Of 1903 The matter of top la
borers is still undisposed Of; they
We're not reduced two years ago, but
a demand is made for an increase of
sos per cent. for them to which the
operators object. The operators with
drew the resolution providing for pay
ment of a penalty to them in case of
local shutouts, but they served notice
that they would renew it when the
scale is adjusted. Yesterdays pro
gress is taken to indicate that there
will be a settlement of all differences.
Expelled by Operators.
St Louis, April 12-The Decatur,
Middletown and Talula Coal com
panies were expelled by the Illinois
operators association because they
signed the scale demanded by the
miners.
Kansas City, April 1.-THE South
western Operators association yes
terday expelled six Of It's members in
Missouri and Kansas who have signed
the miners scale.
Ohio Operators Sign.
Athens. O., April 12-Ten coal
companies and firms operating in
Hooking Valley yesterday signed the
1903 scale and it is expected that the
mines will resume operations at once.
The action of the miners convention
in calling out engineers. 1remen and