The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-03-12

findings Of the distinguished citizens who
the anthracite coal strike
would be to establish a Just
and permanent adjust of the relations
between the operators and their employees
Therefore we regret the suggestion that
an entirely new and untried system
should be made which is only to last
enc year
at is peculiarly fortunate therefore
and employees nor OF the public to have
the mining business as well as the gen
eral business and comfort of the peopi.s
seriously disturbed by these yearly con-
tentions.
Neither can stand these progressive
and enormous Increases in the cost of
the production of anthracite coal. fol-
lowed necessarily by corresponding in
crease in the price.
1T is peculiarly fortunate therefore
that existing conditions have all been the
result Of arbitration BY third persons;
that either party can say that it has
not had due consideration. There can BE-.
Nc doubt that the good of all concerned
will be served best by adhering to the
results thus reached
Demands of the Miners.
The demands of the mine workers.
which were prepared by a committee of
seven. with John Mitchell as chairman.
were forwarded to President Bae~s chair
man of a similar committee represent
ing the anthracite operators, on Feb q!
They sought TO provide for an agreement
between the representatives of the United
Mine Workers of America and the vari-
Gus anthracite operating companies that
certain wages rates hours of labor ard
conditions cf employment should become
effective April I, 1906 and continue i'm ef-
feet until April I. 1907
The proposals included the establish
ment of an eight-hOur day for all per
sons covered by the agreement: re
adjustment Of wages with an Increase
of "a per cent above the award made
By the strike commission for contract
miners; a. new sliding scale providing for
an increase of I Der cent in wages for
all mine workers affected by the agree
ment for each increase of ) cents in the
average price of coal in the sizes known
as crate. egg. stove ard chestnut. sold
at o. near New York. above 81 80 per ton
the rate of cOmpensat ton in no case tC
be less than that fived in the agreement,
that recognition of a mine committee
from the uniCn with full authority to
take up with the officials of a company
any dispute or grievance which may
arise at a cOlliery-
Board Was Proposed.
In case of failure of the mine com
mittee and the officials of the company
TO bring about a settlement. the griev-
ancC. under the plan proposed by the
miners. would be referred to the officials
Of the district. who would take the mat
or manager of the company for read
Justment and in the event of tie failure
CT these officers to agree, the complain
ants then might present the grievance
and the companVs answer 20 a boart
If Cancellation It was proposed that the
whole anthracite coal region be divided
into three districts and that the board
of Cancellation be made I'D of four rem.
resentatives from each of these districts
two members from each district to bs
chosen by the miners and two by tn,
operators.
In event of the board failing TO reach
an agreement uDon any grievance it was
proposed that the board then select an
arbitrator to whom the grievance would
be submitted for prompt decision.
Asked Itemized Pay Statement.
The demand also provided that eacl
employe be given an itemized pay state
ment at least one daV before pay dav
that discharged emp1oye have the RICH
to present his grievance in the sam,
manner as provided for in the case o
other grievances; that no person be re
fused employment or in any other wa.
disseminated agaist on account of thei
membership in any labor organization
that the companies collect from each EN-
ploye such amounts as might be levie,
by their organizations monthly. tn,
amounts thus collected TO be turned owe
to an authorized committee at the col
liery; that all employees who are require,
to work a safety lamp should receive 1
per cent extra in addition to the regula
wages or prices and that the violation o
any provisions Of the agreement. eithe
by the employer or the employees shout,
not invalidate any of its provisions.
Mitchell Gives Reasons.
President Mitchell. acting for tn
miners committee in letter to the com
mittee of operators outlined the reason
upon which the demands of the miner
were based, as follows:
I'VE favor a uniform scale of wage
for men paid by the day, hour or week
because of the fact that men performing
precisely the same character and. In
deed, the same amount Of labor. canho
work with any degree OF contentmen
while the compensation received by Their
Is not uniform. At the present time thi
condition exists in the anthracite field
We feel that the proposition which "
have submitted. fixing uniform rates 70
similar classes of labor, will appeal favor
ably to the members of your COMMITTEES
and that the rates themselves are entirel
conservative and not in excess of rate
paid to men performing practically
not exactly, the same class of labor /
bitumInous mines.
I'VE propose an increase of 10 per Ger
in the rates paid to contract miners fo
several reasons. First. the general III
dustrial, commercial and trade condition
of the country Justify an increase G
wages to all classes of labor. The pros
perity Of the coal carrying roads is ar
ported earnings and the enhanced valu
of their stocks.
Eight-Hour Day.
I'VE favor an eight-hour day becaus
eight hours is the standard working da
of coal mine workers in nearly all tn
bituminous districts Of our country, a
well as in many of the mining district
of Great Britain and the continent, an
eight hours is as long as a man can wor
in a coal mine without doing injury to hi
own health and consequent injury to soc