New-York tribune., 1906-05-06
We HARp Coz sETTLEMENT.

President Mitchell has shown good judgment
as well as good temper IN urging the anthracitc
miners TO accept a three years extension or
the working agreement drawn by the arbitra-
ton commission of 1e02!03. The scale COM
mittee, dominated by Mr.. Mitchell. recon-
mended this course yesterday TO the convention
OF mine workers in session at Scranton, and
the convention heartily approved the commit
tees peace policy The operators have now
only TO sign compact which they themselves
suggested 10 insure q continuance OF condi-
tons under which the anthracite industry has
enjoyed for three years an exceptional measure
Of tranquility and prosperity. Mr. Mitchell
seems 10 have realized that the operators, for
rensons Of their own, were not unwilling to RISK
a trial OF strength with the miners union, and,
weighing the costs of such struggle against
its probable gains, he sensibly decided not to
sacrifice the substantial fruits Of the 1908
award for the shadow of increased wages and
union recognition.
AS The Tribune has repeatedly pointed out
neither the operators nor the miners were eco
nOmically justified IN forcing a strike at this
Juncture. Both sides prodted materially by the
adjustment Of 1903. Anthracite production has
increased, and prices and wages have both
risen. In 1901, under the old scale, the total
production wass 60, ,242, $50 long tons. The value
OF the product was s1125o4, ,o2o and the aver
Z u
ton. In 1902, when work was partially sus-
pended for seven months, only 36940OoO tons
were mined, with a value Of sT6,173,5S6. The
average price a ton was g 95. But in the
next three years. under the scale fixed by the
arbitration commission, these figures were
reached in production: 1e03 66613,454 tons;
1904 65,S18,4eO tons; 1905, 69,339, ,152 tons. The
average value a ton at the mines was 50 so,
81 IS and 81 25, respectively, and the net value
OF the product for the three years was $152,-
o3644s S13So74,O20 and s141. $4,000. Com
pared with 1901 the average increase in the
value Of the annual hard coal output has been
100000.
A large part Of this increase has gone into
wages-according to the operators view, nearly
all OF il. The workers employed In the anthra-
cite field have increased in number from 145.-
800 In 1901 to 165.4OS IN 1905. In 1901 there
were only 1e6 working days In the year. In
1903 there were 206 days. in 1904 200 and In
1905 215. 1t is clear therefore, that conditions
have vastly improved under the operations Of
the award and that the miners were likely TO
lose rather than gain In nullifying tne arbi-
tration boards findings and forcing a new pact
on the mine owners and transportation compe-
nies.
The settlement now in sight will relieve pub
lie apprehension and prevent an increase IN
hard coal prices. For three years at least the
bogie OF a coal famine will be laid and the
hard coal diplomatists will not work on the
nerves OF the anxious householder. This Is
welcome gain. But the unfortunate complica-
ton Of hard coal interests with soft coal inter
ests remains. Through the amalgamation Of
the workers in both fields IN a union controlled
by the soft coal element the anthracite indus
try is tied like tail to the big bituminous kite;
and the hard coal operators viii never be free
from an Injurious outside pressure till they sue
ceed IN separating the two industries and di-
vOrcing their own labor problems from the prob
lens Of their rivals in the soft coal field