Milford chronicle., 1906-04-20
COAL OPERATORS
ANSWER MINERS
Insist on Arbitrating Only Wages
and Adjustment of Complaints.
NOTHING FURTHER TO OFFER


up letter to President John Mitche
Of the United Mine Workers Of Anne
lea, in which the operators again d
clare that there is nothing to arbitra
except the question whether there sha
be any arbitration This reply is mad
in response to President MitchelPs rc
cent amended proposition of arbitra
tion. The operators do not. however
refuse point blank to accept Mr. Nit
chelIs latest plan. They assert that al
the differences between the miners AM
their employers have been decided b,
the strike commission, and that ther,
r. no reason why another attemp
should be made to arbitrate them. Aftel
describing the previous steps of the two
sides and commenting upon the plans
suggested by the miners, the operators
aver that the miners have rejected all
the propositions and that they have
nothing further to offer
"The fundamental principles regard
ing the conduct Of this business have
all been established by the strike COM
mission" the operators declare.
The operators assert that the miners
offer to waive formal recognition of
the miners union is not material, and
declare that the miners programme
would increase the cost Of domestic
sizes Of coal $1.20 per ton
The letter in part is as follows:
To Mr.. John Mitchell and others. com
mittee Of anthracite mine workers. gen
81 fn1n
sition Of the operators that "all ques-
tons at Issue between the respective
companies and their own employees.
whether they belong to a union or not,
should be decided by the anthracite coal
strike commission: accordingly the award
OF the commission covered and decided all
such questions; therefore. we have here
tofore proposed to you that the relations
thus established by arbitration be contin-
ued for a term Of three years-the same
period as that fixed by the strike COM
mission. This offer you have rejected
Your present proposition is that all re-
iations between every employer and his
employees shall be fixed and controlled by
a single instrument. Originally, you sug-
gested that this should be a form Of con-
tract with the United Mine Workers Of
America" now you suggest that it shall
ne with your committee as representa-
tives or the anthracite mine workers"
inasmuch as the authority and standing {
OF your committee as representing any !
one depend wholly upon its designation ,
nv a convention Of the United Mine Work
ars as the representatives Of that body ! {
t Is clear that the change proposed Is (
not substantial but merely formal and ,
'aises no new question. This is evident
iiso from the fact that your proposition
'ontains numerous provisions for action
~ THE organization" and the district !
,fhcers' Of the United Mine Workers of
america.
This proposition restricts production by 7
trictly limiting the hours of labor and
roviding that no miner can work In more X
han one chamber. or have more than two o
lborers; It seeks to equalize wages with n
merely to the name Of the EN- .
loye's position, and not at all to his ca "
acity or the work which he actually V
oes; II provides that no new veins or a
ollieries can be opened without an arbi- VI
'atlon as to wages. and that no contract
employment can be terminated with
lt an arbitration: It makes the employ Il
rs the agents of the union to aid It in ir
vying upon the wages OF the EMPLOYEES 7,
le dues fixed by the unions it provides -
" Increase In wages and rates OF pay +
ent which would approximate 21.6 per eC
mt. and would increase the cost OF the h
'mestic sizes Of coal about 81. 20 per ton :,
70 II suggests dilutlng the present con- u
-iation board into three boards having 81
-ordinate powers. 1t provides still II
rther that the arrangement proposed "a
all continue in force merely for one q,
ar. th
The above provisions. other than those ov
sardlng wages and the adjustment of be
mplalnts' concern radical and funda- / =.
'ntal principles in reference to the III
lnagement Of the business which are oc
al to its success. These questions int
We all been settled by the award of the on
IKE commission which has establish -,
the existing conditions DO
% far as concerns the matter Of wages dis
aalustment Of complaints, we have car
ered 70 submit to the members Of the
IKE commission the question whether
changes in conditions have occurred
ee the award Of the commission re- StI
ring that the award should be modi-
as TO those matters. and II so, how 7
should be changed. These are the ~,
subjects In regard to which you have pr'
de the least suggestion that the condi- Col
IS have changed since the award of Juf
commission, and as to those no facts -,
support Of that suggestion have been SOu
ie public. pri
, resume. the fundamental PRINCIPLES tiaI
arding the conduct Of this business cis
e all been established by the strike
mission. No reason Is suggested yybv tesl
I should be retired. AS to the only ziet
ters regarding why you have made San
least suggestion that conditions have
aged we have suggested that the ex-
ice and effect OF such change be con- Bsa
red by the strike commission. and eigi
It's award be IN force for three years
hat political considerations may have
title influence as possible upon these ID
ness questions. lege
u are responsible for the suspension resi-
grs srs "%s " no a,a GOO r, Ie'ison e hor yers
negotiations, which had been delayed thar
'ou. especially In view OF the fact p
we were willing to continue to pay na ~
wages fxed by the strike commission. -
have no other suggestions to make heIN
those contained in our former prop Min
ms. and we regret that you have thro
ned both Of them. We have nothing
er to oner.
LIE NIENAg VRTNV