The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-04-11
OPERATORS MAKE THEIR
 COUNTER PROPOSITION
DECLINE TO SUBMIT TO ARBI- TRATION BY BOARD OF
 CANCELLATION.

Willing, However, That the Anthra-
 cite Strike Commission Pass on Ger
 tain Questions Including That of
 Wages-Independent Operators Irate
 Blame the Public and Declare 1t
 Must Pay the Cost if Wages Are In
 creased-COnference AdjOurns Until
 Tomorrow.
 New York, April 1O.-The anthracite operators at their conference with the mine workers here to-day declined the proposition to have the conciliation board arbitrate all grievances submit ted by the wage workers, and made counter proposition that the commls- sion appointed by President Roosevelt in 1902 be requested to decide whether any changes in conditions in the hard coal regions have occurred which re- quire that the award of the commission should be modified. The miners owners limit the inquiry to two grievances wages and method for the adjustment of complaints The miners may give the operators an answer on Thursday, when another conference between the subcommittee will be held. In the meantime the miners committee of thirty-six will hold sessions and agree on a reply.
 In connection with to-day's confer ence George F. Baer, chairman of the mine owners subcommittee, made public letter sent to the committee by the independent operators, in which they give their views on the situation and express their firm conviction that any agreement to arbitrate with the United Mine Workers will be an unjus- tifiable surrender to anarchy and mob violence" The letter came as a great surprise to the miners and din ot tend to bring the contending parties closer together.
 While miners and operators are still far apart, confidence is expressed on all sides that peaceful settlement will be brought about. There is every indica- tion that the counter arbitration plan will not be accepted by the miners as presented, although they view with fa- vor the operators selection of the an- thracite strike commission. The old tribunal will be accepted by President Mitchell if he can induce the coal com- panies to widen the scope of the sub mission to be made. The scale com rnittee of the employees was in session tonight, and while nothing was given out for publication, it is known that the sentiment of many, if not major Itv. of the committeeman was for either amending the operators plan so far as it relates to the questions to be taken up. or for standing on their arbitration offer. with the strike commission sub stituted for the conciliation board. The endeavor of the operators to eliminate all the miners grievances with the ex- ception of those of wages and the ad- iustment of complaints, was a keen dis appointment to the miners, and if their attitude can be taken as an indication of their action they will fight hard to have some of their other demands talk en up, such as an eght-hour day, the weighing of coal and the check-off.
 If the scale committee cannot come to an agreement with the operators it is not unlikely that a convention of min CTS will be called to further instruct the committee.
 The meeting to-day was very brief. The answer of the operators follows:
 The paragraph in the proposal to the effect that any party desiring shall pre- sent his claim in writing to the com mission is believed to have been insert ed by the operators so that non-union mine workers may go before the com mission and present complaints, as they did during the sessions of the strike commission in 19O2-3,
 After the proposal had been read President Mitchell asked wether, under the plan, the anthracite operators would have the privilege of asking the com mission to reduce present wages, and he was informed by one of the coal nresidents that they had. In reply to another question he was told that if the operators plan is accepted the first of fer of the coal companies to renew and continue for three years the award of the strike commission would fail. To these answers Mir Mitchell made no comment. He also inquired if the op- orators had sounded the members of the strike commission to learn if they would agree to again act as arbitra- tors and was told that they ha dnot, though it was the belief that the com noissioners would consider it a public duty to serve.
 If the strike commission is called to settle the dispute it is not probable that Bishop Spaulding will be able to serve. as he is said to have just passed through a serious illness.
 The letter of the independent oper- ators follows:
 "Wlkesbarre, Pa, April g. 1906. 'fMessrs. Baer, Truesdale and Others
 Committee, New York City.
 "Gentlemen:-Th independent oper- ators. most of whom are residents oi the anthracite producing counties oi Pennsylvania, desire to express then firm conviction that any agreement tc arbitrate with the United Mine workers will be an unjustifable surrender tc anarchy and mob violence.
 Far more important than the wages of the miners or profit of the operat- ors Is the preservation of civil rights and the maintenance of an orderly gov ernment. None of us have forgotteF the fearful events of the strike of 1902