The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-04-03
Orders of the Scale Committee
will Be Obeyed
LITTLE INDIGESTION REPORTED
Sufficient Workers in ScuylkilI County
May Return to Run the Mines-Else-
where the Men Apparently Intend
to Remain Away Until Further In
structiOns are Received.

Philadelphia, March 31.-When the
| mine workers in the anthracite field
finished their weeks work at noon to-
day there was every indication that the
United Mine Workers of America, sus-
pending operations pending the result
of next Tuesdays conference with the
operators, would be generally Obeyed.
Reports from every district received
here tonight are to the effect that the
large majority Of mine workers intend
| to remain away from the workings un-
Ill further instructions are received
from President Mitchell and the mem
berS of the scale committee
In tn lower field comprising the COL
heries in Scuylkill county, some indie
cision on the part Of the men is re-
ported and the impression prevails
that sufficient mine workers will return
to work On Monday to permit the op-
Grafton, short handed, Of number of
collieries; but the fact that in the vi
cinity of Mahoney City and Shamoken
hundreds Of men failed to report for
duty today is regarded as evidence that
there will be complete suspension of
| mining throughout the entire anthra-
cite territory.
The men left the mines today as
| usual, making no demonstration at any
| of the workings. During the after
noon many Of the miners in the vari-
| Gus towns cOngregated to discuss the
situation, but there was no disorder.
The lead taken yesterday by the Del
aware, LackaWanna and Western Rail-
road Company in posting notices an
nouncing the continuation of the strike
commissions award for the ensuing
three years was followed to a large eX-
tent today by other operators, especial
| ly in the northern fields. At Scranton
today and tonight officials of the COM
panies whose operations are located in
f, the Lackanwanna and Wyoming dis
tricts at conferences held decided to
keep all the mines in readiness for
operation should the men ignore the
scale committees order, but none Of
the participants in the conference was
able to report a sufficient number of
men to operate any one colliery.
The most important feature of to-
days developments in this city was a
conference between \. J. Cassatt, pres
ident of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company, and George F. Baer, presi-
dent of the Reading Company, in the
laeter's office. Shortly after the depar-
ture of President Cassatt, w. G..
Brown, secretary Of the Philadelphia
and Reading Coal and Iron Company,
was summoned by Mr.. Baer. Meth
er Mr. Cassatt or Mr.. Baer would
speak of the object of the conference.
President Baer stated, however, that
the Reading company would probably
keep it's collieries open on Monday in
order to give any miners who so de-
sire an opportunity to go to work.
Mr.. Baer stated also that it was the
intention Of the Reading Company 20
continue the existing coal prices. 1o
declared that the charging of exOcbi-
tant prices by retailers would result in
the cutting off their supply. The stock
Of coal on hand. he said in the event
Of strike will be judiciousiy distrib-
uted, special attention to be given to
municipalities, institutions and indus
trial establishments.
In this city coal prices were advanc-
ed % and so cents 3 ton. All domestic
sizes brought 81 a ton ard pea-coa1
brought as much as So i'll some cases.