Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-04-19
THE coal STU ALTON.

The people of burlington as we'll as
of other communities in the cold region
have vital interest in the situation re-
gardng the possibility OF a strike in
the anthracite coal mines. In order to
thoroughly understand existing condi-
the steps leading up to the controversy
Arbitration of mine disputes such as
that afforded in the anthracite coal
regions by the board OF Cancellation
is the outsrowth of over third of a
century of experimenting Back in 1871,
after half a dozen years OF intermittent
noteworthy example Of arbitration ever
attempted in this country became
operative. business had been in the
depths o. decentralization and there was
genuine satisfaction when provision
was made for settlement Of All future
disputes by arbitration. Wages were
cent for each cents rise or fall in
the price of coal, s2.75 being taken as
a basis price with the provision that
miners pay was not 20 b" reduced
should coal fall below S@.2j ton at
Port Carbon
Unfortunately coal FELL below SEA
corresponding reduction IN wages be
made. The hopes horn Of Years of dis
putc and suffering were swept away
in AN instant
Then followed a long. tedious strug-
SIC that finally ended in the disruption
OF the Workiucmen'S Benevolent as
ISOLATION, an organization whose prin
cip!es had been borrowed from the
British trade unions and which for a
time promised TO do much toward up-
lifting tn" condition of the miners
Its constitution set down as q main
object that the stranger might find
the kind attention and fostering care
of Il brother when needing assistance.
and hc encouraged in resolutions OF
morality aud assistance at all tinl.s"
The organization passed through
various stages Of vicissitudos aud
development until 1902 when the world
Witnessed one of the creates. labor
struggles of modern times. The miners
union had become u powerful orsauiza-
ton and the plans for the struggle had
been so well prepared that the miners
ing promises Of success. The operators
of the mines had also formed 4 power
full offensive and defensive alliance,
aud after Che struggle had continued
for some time it will he recalled that
President Roosevelt was finally con-
strained to become mediator, appoint
ultimately accepted by both sides and
the strike ended.
The effect Of the decision Of the anthra
cite coal commission appointed by Presi-
dent Roosevelt was that, after the COM
mission had increased waGes--whicl in
crease Amounted. according To the state
ment made by the miners officials. as sat
forth in the report of the secretary-trcas-
urer OF the ninth district. TO an avcra ee
or from \ per cent. to Il per cent. on
every dollar carncd'a further increase
OF J per cent. ON each and every possible
advance Of five cents per ton on the price
of prepared sizes, was awarded. In other
words, the increased wages were fixed as
the minimum wages the miners would re-
ceiNe, under all circumstances, and with
out reference To the price az which the
coal was sold. provided the price at which
! was sold did not exceed $50 per ton in
Guiding freight New York harbor.
Whenever the price in New York halbor
exceeds $40 per ton. the wages or the
miners are Increased per cent. for each
five cents per ton advance in the price OF
coal. But after the price of coal falls
below $50 New York harbor, the miners
below The minimum fixed by The commits
sion, but they may increase largely. ami
they have increased as much as per cent
because Of the rise in price OF prepared
sizes.
The commission, it will be observed, did
not think this sliding scale would give ans
increased wages to the miners bat in this
it was mistaken, because exceptional cir
cumstances enabled the operators 20 ad-
vance the price of prepared sizes OF coal
to meet the large increase of wages. But
an "Verproducton of btuminous coal and
Il lessencd consumption Of anthra cite, by
reason Of competition and weather condl-
tons. likewise caused an overproductlo ion
OF anthracite coal. What effect this may
ultimately have on the price OF anthracite
coal, no one can tell; but under the pres
ent Arrangement, It will not affect the
minimum scale of wages fixed by the
anthracite coal strike commission
Looking back over the years of struggle,
both miners and operators seem agreed
that one of tn" great benefits arising out
of the strike of 1902 was the establishment
of the board Of Cancellation, an arbitra ton
body whose decisions have been received
with satisfaction 10y both employer and
In fact, only ono argument has
been made against its continuance and