The Washington times., 1906-03-30
Says Half of Bitumin-
Gus Tonnage Will
Grant Increase
in Pay.
SOFT COAL MEN LAID
CLAIM TO F0UR-FIFTHS
Miner and Competitor
Accuse Employers of
MiSStatementS.
STATEMENTS TO PRESIDENT
So Declare Both Sides In T.le-
grams Sent to the While
House.

The President this morning gave out
the following telegram. received from
President John Mitchell. OF the United
Nine Workers. and Francis L. Robbins.
one OF the operators:
Indianapolis. Ind. March -
Hon. Theodore Roosevelt. Washington:
Responding TO your suggestion. we
have fulfilled our highest duties as citi-
Eens OF our country by advocating =
b-tuminous coal scale. on = REASONABLE
compromise. We understand that tee
gram has been sent to you tonight. pur-
porting 10 speak for so per cent OF the
bituminous tonnage That telegram docs
not represent the real facts. At least
one-half OF the total tonnage in western
Pennsylvania. Ohio. Indiana. and Illinois
Is produced by operators who are Will
ing to pay the compromise scale.
JOHN MITCHELL.
FRANCIS l. ROBBINS"
What Operators Say.
The telegram received from the oper-
stors. 10 which the above message re-
ferred was as follows:
Indianapolis. March ..
The President. Washington:
u have the honor OF transmitting 10
you the following resolution, passed by
coal operators assembled in this city:
''Whsreas. the coal operators and the
representatives of the miners OF the
States OF Illinois. Indiana, Ohio. and
western Pennsylvania. having net in
Indianapolis at the suggestion OF the
President OF the United States for the
purpose Of endeavoring 70 agree upon
scale OF wages and mining conditions
for a period beginning April I. 1906. and
the parties having been unable 10 reach
an agreement and having adjourned sine
die. be il,
Ask for Commission
Resolved. That We. coal operators OF
the States OF Illinois. India. Ohio. and
western Pennsylvania, representing a.
least ~ per cent OF the tonnage in the
territory involved. who have felt. and
still feel. unable 10 pay any advance in
wages az this time, do hereby propose
that the President OF the United States
appoint e commission TO investigate all
matters which. in the judgment OF such
commission. have an important bearing
upon or relation TO the scale OF wages
which should be paid all classes OF Ia
Dor in and about the coal mines of the
territory herein involved and other con-
ditions now imposed and insisted on by
the United Mine Workers of America.
such commission to report 10 the Pres
ident Of the United States its findings
of facts, together with its recommenda-
tions.
BE It further resolved, That such
commission have power TO administer
oaths and compel attendance OF Wit
nesses."
JOHN H. WINDER, Chairman.
Cabinet Discusses Appeal.
President Roosevelt took up the ap-
peal OF coal operators with the Cabinet
today. and the disput was gone over
from one end to another
After adjournment the President said
he had no statement TO make. He has
not replied TO the kilograms.
II is understood that il the President
acts upon the appeal of the operators
insist upon both sides accepting its
decision as final
Must Accept His Decision.
Inasmuch as the operators and the
miners have both appealed 10 the Pres
ident, it is believed that no criticism
could be made if the President made
point blank proposition to them 70 sp-
point commission to settle all the dif-
ferences- II would hardly be worth
while. it is said 10 appoint a commission
whose scope Of authority was merely 20
investigate and report. After the re-
port had been received the President
would be vested with no power 10 stop
the strike.
II is predicted. therefore. that what
ever action the President takes it will
be along the line OF Affecting a perma-
nent settlement OF the strike differences.