Omaha daily bee., 1906-02-10
BRIEF OF ANTHRACITE OPERATORS
MIR. Wilcox States That Men Are Now
working Less Than Eight Hours.

Mr.. Wilcox States That Men Are Now
Working Less Than Eight Hours.
NEW YORK, Feb. 9.-President David
Wilcox of the Delaware Hudson COM
pany today made public the text of the
letter which he wrote to John Mitchell,
president of the United Mine Workers of
America, concerning conference between
the mine workers and the operators to
discuss the wage question.
In his letter Mr.. Wilcox says that prac-
tically all members at present involved
have already been the subject of arbtra-
ton by the anthracite strike commission.
He says that in 1923 the commission
found that the average hours actually
worked per day did not exceed six for the
miners and eight for the other employees,
and the present conditions are substantially
the same. In the case of the Delaware q
Hudson company during 1905, the average
number of hours worked per day by the
employees. other than the miners, was about
seven and one-quarter hours per day; the
average number of hours worked per DAY
by the miners was slightly over six and
one-half hours per day. Any suggestion OF
| an eight-hour day for the employees by the
| day does not therefore look to a dimuni-
! ton of hours of labor, as they do not av-
erage eight hours per day. but merely to a
hour so as to advance the wages about 12.5
per cent above the standard fixed by the
strike commission. This advance would
| amount approximately to cents per ton
of coal, or on the entire product about
| ST. 900 per annum.
Mr. Wilcox devotes much space to an
! argument tending to show that conditions
| have not changed since the award of the
strike commission. He continues:
| 1t is true that the award OF the strike
commission ceases to be controlling as to
future conditions after March 81, 1906, but
its decision after protracted investigation
must be regarded by any other tribunal
and by disinterested persons as conclusive
IN the absence OF some new facts raising
new Questions:
Mr.. Wilcox says further along:
In case 1t should be necessary to resort
to arbitration In reference to any matter
not already covered by arbitration, and.
therefore. for the purpose Of supplementing
the award of the commission. II there be
any such matter. 1t. would appear natural
mission TO act so that further award might
be in harmony with that already made.
Al arrsngemeInts necessary in the prem
beers of the Cancellation board as they
| represent all parties.
| The conditions established by the strike
commission followed after very serious con-
| troversy were the result of probably the
most conscientious and exhaustive exami-
on the whole have proved satisfactory and
have not even been the subject OF very
serious criticism. 1t therefore does not
seem desirable to abandon the results
liable In themselves, and resort to new
methods which are uncertain and difficult
As already said there is no association OF
organization OF the producers OF anthracite
coal: but even IL there were any arrange.
ment between parties purporting to repre-
sent all the employers upon the one s ID
and other parties purporting to represent
all the employees upon the other side. might
be subject to the charge of illegality and
might not commend itself to public conf
dence."
/ The letter concludes as follows:
The suggestions are made in the interes
of the public and OF all the parties for this
purpose OF avoiding future difficulties by
lowed by the settlement of the strike n
1902. Tt is earnestly hoped that they will
commend themselves to the best judgInen
Of all as the proper course and as fai
wiser than entering upon new and uncer
tain methods OF procedure.
Appended to the letter is table undel
the caption, Comparison of Earnings II
dustries of Pennsylvania" showing tina
the yearly earnings of all classes of anthra
site employees were 2s per cent greater thar
those of the bituminous employees. Tn,
yearly earnings OF the anthracite miner
were more than so per cent greater thar
those of the bituminous miners.
A meeting of the operators OF the anthra
cite roads is fixed for early next week I,
discuss among themselves their side of tn,
coal controversy before going into tn,
conference with the representatives OF tn,
miners on February L.