Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-04-21
COAL OPERATORS
ANSWER MINERS
Insist on Arbi,racAy Only Wages
and Adjustment Of Comp .aints.
NOTHING FURTHER TO OFFER

NOTHING FURTHER TO OFFER
New York April ls.-A sub-commit-
tee OF presidents of the anthracite coal
| carrying railroads and mine operators
held a meeting in this city and drew
/ mp letter 90 President John Mitchell
OF the United Mine Workers Of Amer
Tea. IN which the operators again de
| clare that there is nothing 60 arbitrate
| except the question whether there shall
he any arbitration This reply is made
IN response 90 President Mitchelrs re-
| cent amended proposition OF arbitra-
| ton. The operators do not howeve~
refuse point blank to accept Mr.. Nit
! chells 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 be made to arbitrate them. After
! describing the previous steps OF the two
sides and commenting upon the plans
suggested by the miners. the operators
aver that the miners have rejected all
the propositions and that they have
nothing further 90 offer.
The fundamental principles regard
ing the conduct of this business have
all been established by the strike com
mission" the operators declare.
The operators assert that the miners
| OFFER 10 waive formal recognition OF
the miners union IS not material. and
declare that the miners programme
would increase the cost OF domestic
sizes OF coal $3.50 per ton.
The letter. On part Is as follows:
To Mr. John Mitchell and others. com
| mittee OF anthracite mine workers gem
| ucmcn. Tn 1872 YOU usscutcd 90 the propo-
rition OF tho operators that "an cues
/ lions" az issue between tho respective
l companies and their own employees.
whether they belong Co "a union or not.
| should Doe decided by the anthracite coal
/ strike comm ssions accordingly tho award
o. the commission covered and decided all
| such questions. therefore. we have here
1 toforc proposed 20 you that the relations
! thus established by arbitration be contin-
1 ued Tor term OF three years-the same
/ period as that nNcd by the strike COM
| mission. This offer YOU have rejected.
Your present proposition is that all re-
1 latlons between every employer and his
/ employees shah be fixed and controlled by
I single instrument Originally. you sug-
1 Eestcd that this should be "a form OF con-
| tract with the United Mine Workers Of
| America now YOU suggest that Il shall
| De with your committee as representa-
| lives OF the anthracite mine workers o"
| inasmuch as the authority and standing
| or your committee as representing any
/ one depend wholly upon It's designation
ny a convention OF the United Mine Work
| ers as the rcuresentatives OF that body
| n r. clear that the change proposed IS
| not substantial. but merely formal. and
| raises no new question. This Is evident
also from the fact that your proposition
| contains numerous provisions for action
| by THE organization" and the district
| officers OF the United Mine Workers OF
I America.
This proposition restricts production by
! strictly limiting the hours OF labor and
| providing that no miner can work in more
| than one chamber. or have more than two
| laborers. % seeks to equallze wages with
reference merely TO the name OF the en-
| ploye's position. and not at all 10 HIS ca
| pacity or the work which he actually
| does; Il provides that no new veins or
| collieries can be opened without arbi-
| tration as 10 wages. and that no contract
| OF employment can be terminated with
| out an arbitration; 10 makes the employ
| ers the agents OF the union TO aid Il In
| ievying upon the wages OF the employees
| the dues fixed by the unions; Il provides
| for Increase In wages and rates OF pay
| ment which would approximate PIG per
| cent. and would Increase the cost Of the
| domestic sizes OF coal about Si.2O per ton.
and 81 suggests diluting the present con-
| Citation board into three boards having
| coordinate powers. II provides still
| further that the arrangement proposed
shall continue in force merely for one
year.
The above provisions. other than those
| regarding wages ana the adjustment OF
| complaints. concern radical and funda-
| mental principles In reference to the
| management OF the business which are
| vital to It's success. These questions
have all been settled by the award Of the
strike commission. which has establish
ed the existing conditions
So far as concerns the matter OF wages
| and adjustment OF complaints we have
offered 10 submit to the members OF the
| strike commission the question whether
any changes In conditions have occurred
since the award Of the commission re-
curing that the award should be modi-
fed as TO those matters. and II so. how
IL should be changed. These are the
only subjects IN regard 10 which you have
made the least suggestion that the condi-
tons have changed since the award OF
the commission. and as to those no facts
In support OF that suggestion have been
made public
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 be retired. AS 20 the only
matters regarding why you have made
the least suggestion that conditions have
1 changed. we have suggested that the ex-
istence and effect OF such change be con-
l sidered by the strike commission. and
| that its award be In force for three years
20 that political considerations may have
a. little influence possible upon these
business questions.
You are responsible for the suspension
| OF work. There was no good reason for
| ordering the men TO stop work pending
our negotiations. which had been delayed
by you especially In Wow OF the fact