Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-03-17
OPERATORS REFUSE
MINERS DEMANDS
Suggest Award Of Anthracite Com.
mission Be Continued.
NOTHING TO WARRANT CHANGE

New York, March i9-The PROPOSE.
Guns Of the United Mine Workers OF
America Tor "A reimbursement oi wages
snd conditions IN the anthracite coal
rclds. as a whole, have been denied
b. the committee representing the an
thraeitc operators. As "a counter prop.
Isition. the operators suggest that the
awards made boy the anthracite coal
strike commission. on the principles
upon which they we're established by
tho commission and the methods es-
tablished for carrying ont their hnd-
ings aud awards. shall be continued
Tor a further term OF three years from
April II. 1906. The present agreement
terminates March 81 OF this year.
Announcement Of the anthracite OPP
orators decision and their counter
proposition was made in long, formal
statement. which was given out for
publication This statement, which in
cludes the correspondence on the sub.
jeris ~ issue between President John
Mitchell. OF the United Mine Workers.
acting Tor the miners. and George +.
Blcr president OF the Philadelphia 4
Reading Coal and Iron company for
the operators. discusses the miners
proposition in detail In every in
stance the contention is made by the
operators either that conditions In the
coal fields DO not warrant the changes
proposed by the miners or that the
Hp.. ha hnA
PASSED upon by the strike commission.
Won't Recognize Union.
The demand OF the miners that the
operators enter into an agreement
with the union Is declined Oh the
ground that the anthracite operators
"stand unalterably for the open shop,
and again decline to make an agree
ment with the United Mine Workers
OF America an organization controlled
by a rival industry OF the demand
for an eight hour day the statement
saws the operators know Of no change
ih conditions that can be used 10 sus
tain the renewed demand for a reduc-
ton in hours II declares that the
expectation Of the strike commission
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. We
might Justly say that with the expe-
rience Of the rest three years. the
honour day should be restored but
We are willing 10 abide by the de-
cision OF the commission. The prop
csition that a uniform scale Of wages
be established in the anthracite fields
f. met BY the operators with the reply
that this would be impracticable by
reason of the varying capacities Of
the workmen and the varying condi
tions existing in the region and AT the
cOllieries
I'VE cannot increase wages without
advancing the price OF coal; and we
are not willing to advance the price
OF coal" is the reply to the demand
fo- general increase in wages. The
request that the operators shall collect
from each employe certain stated sums
for the support of the Mine Workers
Union is denied on the ground that
"as a matter of policy. we would not
make such an agreement as you re-
quest. ana as matter OF law we are
rot permitted TO make IL" The opera
tors decline Ia agree To any change In
the board of Cancellation as established
by the anthracite coal strike commits
sion. taking the ground that the sys-
tenn proposed would simply involve
the creation Of a series OF minor boards
whose decisions might be conflicting
ard from which appeals would have TO
be taken 10 an arbitrator thereby ere
citing moro delays than now exist The
complaint OF the miners that the board
OF Cancellation does not act promptly
the operators declare 10 be not war
ranted by the facts Tho demand for
new sliding wage scale IS denied on
the ground that the sliding scale fixed
by the anthracite coal strike commits.
sion covers practically all the PROPOSE
tions In the proposed new scale