The Oskaloosa herald., 1906-05-03
OPERATORS PAT
ON PROPOSITION
REPLY TO MINEwoRKERs ALONG
SAME OLD LINES.
QUESTIONS ONCE SETTLED
Employers Contend the Anthracite
Commission Has Already Decided
All Contentious Put Forward
by the Employees.

mine workers for an adjustment Of the
existing difference in the anthracite
fields, In which they refuse to modify
their position heretofore announced.
Addressing President Mitchell and
others of the miners subcommittee the
operators say:
I'VE observe that you reject our
proposition of arbitration by the strike
commission. You speak of it as a sug-
gestion that we first arbitrate to as
certain whether there is anything to
arbitrate, and then restrict within mar
row limits the scope of the investiga-
ton This statement of the PROPOSE
ton is erroneous. Our offer was to
submit to the members Of the strike
commission the question whether any
changes in conditions have occurred
since the award of the commission re-
quiring that the award should be so
modified as to wages and adjustment
of complaints, and, II so, how 1t
should be changed You will observe.
therefore, that your statement was de-
cidedly inaccurate. This proposition
was in accordance with the view which
we have constantly urged that the
award OF the commission should be
deemed conclusive as to any facts or
issues within its scope, and that any
further arbitration should be supple
mentary to that award rather than q
retrial Of all such facts and issues. II
Is clear that this procedure would
tend to dignity and strengthen the
process of arbitration rather than, as
you suggest, bring 1t into disrepute
and ridicule' The latter result would
follow If arbitration should never be
regarded as final. but simply as basis
for further endless controversy. We
regret, therefore, that you should have
rejected what would clearly be the
fair and logicaI course regarding any
arbitration In the premises.
Demand Three-Year-Contract. TED"
your letter contains nothing def.
mite with reference TO the duration OF
the arrangements which you propose.
It suggests that the same continue for
q period to be mutually determined by
our Joint committees We have al
ready twice stated that in the interests
lof the industry and Of the public any
result now reached should continue for
q period Of three years. This was the
period fixed in the submission to the
strike commission for the purpose OF
avoiding constant disturbance in the
industry and in the present case, as we
have already suggested, 1t is desirable
so that the political considerations In
cident to a presidential campaign may
have as little influence as possible on
these business questions.
I'VE observe that, as you suggest
you have abandoned all the various
demands contained in your original
Communication and that your present
propositions differ entirely therefron
and concern merely the matter OF
wages. These propositions seem to ba
based upon the impression that wages
in the anthracite industry are unduly
low. Even before the advances which
were made by its award the strike
commission found to the contrary.
Moreover, it is established by figures
contained in the report Of the secretary
Of internal affairs of the state of Penn.
sylVania for 1904, that the average
yearly earnings of all classes OF an.
thracite mine workers are much great,
er than those Of the bituminous EN-.
ployes in that state. Inasmuch as the
two industries are so largely compete.
tive, the disparity of wages cannot
safely be further increased"
Reject Sliding Scale.
The operators, after giving figures In
detail, say that to accept the sliding
scale Of wages proposed by the miners
would mean an increase in the price OF
coal to the public Of &c cents a ton.
The present profit to the operators,
they say, is but 20 cents a ton.
I'VE note what you say with refer
ence t. the hazards incident to the
employment of the contract workers
No one can regret more deeply than
ourselves the accidents to which you
refer. That matter was fully present.
ed TO the strike commission and had
due weight in fixing the existing
wages.
THE conditions which. have pre-
vailed under the award of the strike
commission have been as satisfactory
as could be anticipated, in view of the
magnitude OF the industry. In one of
his addresses last summer your chair
man was said to have stated that at
no time in the last 80 years have the
wage earnings of the miners been as.
fair as they are now. In view of all
the circumstances we are satisfied that
the true course was indicated in our
original proposition. This was that
existing conditions should be contin-
ued for period of three years.
I'VE trust that on Thursday next
the deliberate judgment of the anthra-
cite workers win result in an accept
ance OF that proposition. but If not
that they will join with US in the ar
bitration we have offered.
Failing TO meet us on either propo-
sition. the responsibility OF a strike
must rest upon you"