The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-03-12
PROPOSITIONS
ALL REJECTED
Anthracite Operators Announc,
Their Decision and Submit a
Counter Proposition.
STAND FOR THE OPEN SHOP
REPLY TO OTHER DEMANDS IN
DETAIL.

New York, March 1.-THE PROPOSE
tiOns of the United Mine Workers of
America for a readjustment of wages
and conditions in the anthracite coal
fields, as a whole, have been denied by
the committee representing the anthra-
cite operators AS a counter proposi-
ton the operators suggest that the
awards made by the anthracite coal
strike commission, the principles upon
which they are estab lished by the COM
mission and the methods established
for carrying out their findings and
awards, shall be continued for a fur
ther term of three years from the first
day Of April, 1906. The present agree
ment terminates March 81 of this year
Decision Announced.
Announcement of the anthracite op-
orators decision and their counter
proposition was made tonight in a long
formal statement which was given out
for publication. In this statement.
which includes the correspondence on
the subjects at issue between President
John Mitchell of the United Mine
Workers, acting for the miners. and
George F. Baer, president of the Phila-
delphia & Reading Coal & Iron COM
pany, for the operators, discusses the
miners propositions in detail In every
| instance the contention is made by the
operators either that conditions in the
coal fields do not warrant the change
proposed by the miners. or that the
questions at issue already have been
passed upon by the strike commission.
Stand for Open Shop.
The demand of the miners that the
operators enter into an agreement with
the union is declined on the ground that
the anthracite operators stand I'M
alterably for the open shop. and again
decline to make an agreement with the
United Mine Workers of america, an
organization controlled by a rival in
dustry."
OF the demand for an eight-hour
day, the statement says the operators
| know of no change in conditions that
| can be used to sustain the renewed de-
mand for reduction in hours; declares
| that the expectation of the strike COM
mfttee that the reduction from ten to
! nine hours should not result in any de-
crease in the output of the mines has
| not been realized, and adds:
I'VE might justly say that with the
experience of the past three years, the
| ten-hour day should be restored, but
we are willing to abide by the decision
| of the commission"
Demand Not Practicable.
The proposition that a uniform scale
of wages be established in the anthra-
| cite fields is met by the operators with
| the reply that this would be impracti-
cable by reason of the varying capaci-
/ ties Of the workmen and the varying
conditions existing in the region and at
| the collieries.
I'VE cannot increase wa ges without
advancing the price Of coal, and we are
| not willing to advance the price of
COAL" is the reply TO the demand for
/ a general increase in wages.
| The request that the operators shall
collect from each employee certain stated
sums for the support Of the mine work
/ ers' union is denied on the ground that
''as a matter of policy we would not
rake such an agreement as you request
and as a matter of law we are not per-
| mitted to make IT.
No Change In Board.
The operators decline TO agree to any
| change in the board of Cancellation as
established by the anthracite coal strike
system proposed by the miners would
| simply involve the creation OF a series
OF minor boards. whose decisions might
be conflicting, and from which appeals
would have to be. taken to an arbitra-
tor, thereby creating more delay than
now exists. The complaint OF the min
ers that the board of Cancellation does
| rot act promptly the operators declare
to be not warranted by the facts. The
is denied on the ground that riie slidine
scale fixed by the anthracite coal strike
propositions in the proposed new scale
Regrets of the Operators.
In conclusion the statement says: iii
had been our hope and. we trust. It's
public expectation as we'll that the eff
feet OF the exhaustive Investigation and