Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-03-12
From the Anthracite Oper-
ators Of the Country
Denying Request for Readjust-
ment Of Present Scale
And Suggesting Present Agreement Be
Continued for Three Years.

New York, March 1.-The proposition
of the United Mine Workers of Ameri-
ca for REIMBURSEMENT of wages and
conditions in the anthracite coal fields.
as whole have been denied by the
committee representing the anthracite
operators. AS u counter proposition, the
operators suggest that the awards
maize by the Anthracite Coal Strike
commission, the principles upon which
they We're established by the commits
sion and the methods established for
carrying out their findings and awards,
shall be continued for L further term
of three years from the first day of
April. 1906. The present agreement ter
inmates March 81 of this year.
Announcement of the anthracite OPP
orators decision and their counter prop
ositiOn was made tonight in a long, for
mai statement which was given out
for publication. This statement. which
includes the correspondence on the sub
jects at issue between President John
Mitchell of the United Mine Workers
acting for the miners and George F.
Baer, president of the Philadelphia &
Reading Coal and Iron Co., for the OPP
orators. discussed the miners PROPOSE
ton in detail. In every instance the
contention is made by the operators
either that conditions in the coal fields
do not warrant the changes proposed
by the miners or that the questions at
issue already have been passed upon by
the strike commission.
The demand of the miners that the
operators enter into an agreement with
the union is declined on the ground
that the anthracite operators "stand
unalterably for the open shop and
again decline to make an agreement
with the United Mine Workers of
America. an organization controlled by
a rival industry" OF the demand for
an s-hOur day, the statement says the
operators know OF no change in cOndi-
tons that can be used to sustain the
renewed demand for a deduction in
hours. 1t declares that the expectation
OF the strike commission that the re-
duction from 10 to nine hours "ShOuld
not result in any decrease in the output
of the mines has not been realized
and adds: I'VE might justly say that
with the experience of the past three
years the 1O-hour day should be re-
stored; but we are willing to abide by
the decision of the commission" The
proposition that a new uniform scale
of wages be established in the anthra-
cite fields is met by the operators with
the reply that this would be impracti-
cable by reason of the varying capac-
tiles of the WOrkmen and the varying
conditions existing in the region and at
the cOllieries.
1--WE cannot increase wages without
advancing the price of coal: and We
are not willing to advance the price of
coal" is the reply to the demand for
d general increase in wages. The re-
quest that the operators shall collect
from each employe certain stated sums
for the support of the Mine Workers
Union is denied On the ground that ''as
a matter of policy we should not make
such an agreement as you request and
as . matter Of law, we are not per-
mitted to make it." The operators de-
cline to agree TO any change in the
board of Cancellation as established by
the Anthracite Coal Strike commission,
taking the ground that the system pro-
posed by the miners would simply in
boards whose decisions might be con-
flicting, and from which appeals would
have to be taken to an arbitrator.
thereby creating more delays than now
exists. The complaint of the miners
that the board of Cancellation does not
act promptly the operators declare to
be net warranted by the facts. The de-
mand for new sliding wage scale Is
denied on the ground that the sliding
scale fixed by the Anthracite Coal
Strike commission covers practically
all the propositions in the proposed
new scale.
In conclusion the statement says: at
had been our hope, an We trusted, the
public expectation as well, that the ef-
feet of the exhaustive investigation
and findings of the distinguished citi-
zens who constituted the Anthracite
Strike commission would be to estab-
fish just and permanent adjustment
Of the relations between the operators
and their employees.
therefore regret your suggestions that an
entirely new and untried arrangement
should be made. which is only to last for
one year.
1T is not to the interest of employers
and employees. nor Of the public, to have
the mining business, as well as the gen.
eral business and comfort Of the people.
seriously disturbed by these yearly con-
tentions.
Neither can stand these progressive
and enormous increases In the cost Of the
production of anthracite coal, followed
necessarily by corresponding increases in
its price.
ut is peculiarly fortunate. therefore.
that existing conditions have all been the
result of arbitration by third persons. so
that neither party can say that it has
not had due consideration. There can be
no doubt that the good of all concerned
will be best served by adhering to the re-
suits thus reached"
CONTINUED on Page Ten.)