The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-04-12
MINERS REPLY READY
 FOR THE OPERATORS
WILL BE PRESENTED AT THE JOINT CONFERENCE TO-
 DAY.

Belief That Mitchell Has Decided to
 Accept the Counter Proposition That
 the Anthracite Strike Commission
 Take Up the Dispute--WilI Ask,
 However, That the Tribunal be Per-
 mitted to Consider the Original De-
 mands With Certain Important MOdi-
 1cations-ConcessiOn Made.
 New York, April n.--After having the counter arbitration plan of the anthra- cite operators under consideration near- ly all day, the general scale committee of the hard coal miners completed the draft of their reply, and will present it to the committee of mine owners at the joint session tomorrow. The strict est secrecy surrounded the work of the committeeman. It is believed the min CTS have decided to accept the operat- ors offer that the anthracite strike commission take up the dispute, but will ask that the tribunal be permitted to consider the original demands with certain important notifications.
 The concessions said to have been de- cided upon are that instead of an agreement being entered into between the operators and the United Mine Workers of America it be made with the anthracite mine workers; that the check off be limited to the wage work CTS who agree to an assessment to de- fray the expenses incurred in carrying out the miners part of the agreement, instead of all mine workers union and non-union-being compelled to contrib ute, and that the duration of the agree- ment be left to- the commission. The miners in their arbitration plan asked for a two year agreement, and the operators in their counter proposition wanted one for three years.
 If this proposition is submitted by the miners and accepted 1t will leave the commission free to take up the de- mands for an increase in wages, an eight-hour day, uniform pay for all classes of employment paid by the day or month, reconstruction of the con ciliation board and a number of minor grievances. The operators want to linn it the inquiry to wages and method for the adjustment of complaints.
 Tine general scale committee of the miners held two sessions to-day at which most of the members discussed the operators plan. They were by no means a unit in their views, and the more radical committeeman favored a complete rejection of the operators nroposal outside of that portion which provides that the strike commissioners he the arbitrators. They feared the operators might take advantage in the clause of the latter's proposition which gives them the privilege of asking the arbitrators to reduce the wages Of the men. All the committeeman viewed Ia vorably the offer that the strike com mission arbitrate the differences in stead of the conciliation board After the adjournment of the afternoon ses- sion of tthe general committee the sub committee, composed of the three an- thracite district presidents and secre- +aries and President Mitchell, held a hrief session. Two hours later the subcommittee met again for a few minutes. There was no meeting of the general committee tonight
 The anthracite operators had noth- ing to say to-day regarding the sit nafion beyond the statement that the whole matter is temporarily in the Iordc If the miners.