The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-12
Conditions in Coal Fields Do
Not Warrant Change
DEMANDS MADE BY MINERS
Anthracite Operators Say They Stand
Unalterably for Open Shop and
Cannot Consent to Reduc-
ton in Hours.

New York March 1.-THE propositions
OF the United Mine Workers of America
for readjustment of wages and condi-
tons in the anthracite coal fields
whole having been denied by the conf
mittee representing the anthracite oper-
ators, as a counter proposition the oper-
ators suggest that the awards made by
the anthracite coal strike commission,
the principles upon which they were
established and the methods estab-
llshed for carrying out their find
ings and awards shall be con-
tinued for a further term of three
years from the first day of April, 1906.
The present agreement terminates March
81 Of this year.
Announcement of the anthracite oper-
ators' decision and their counter PROPOSE
tion was made in a long formal statement
which was given out for publication.
This statement. which includes the cor
respondence on the subjects at issue be-
tween President John Mitchell Of the
United Mine Workers acting for the
mine workers. and George f. Baer, pres
ident of the Philadelphia and Reading
Coal and Iron company, for the opera
tors, discusses the miners propositions
in detail.s
Conditions Warrant no Change.
In every instance the contention is made
by the operators either that conditions in
the coal fields do not warrant the change
proposed by the miners or that the ques-
tions at issue already have been passed
upon by the strike commission. The de-
mand of the miners that the operators
enter into an agreement with the union
is declined on the ground that the an
thraelte operators stand unalteraby for
the open shop and again decline to make
an agreement with the United Mine
Workers of America, IAN organization
controlled by rival Industry. OF the
demand for an eight hour day the state
ment says the operators know of no
change in conditions that can be used to
sustain the renewed demand for a reduc-
tion in hours 1t declares that the ex-
pectation of the strike commission that
the reduction from ten to nine hours
''should not result in any decrease in the
output of the mines has not been 'real-
lied" and adds:
I'VE might justly say that with the ex-
perience of the past three years the ten
hour day should be restored, but we are
commission The proposition that a uni
form scale of wages be established in
the anthracite fields is met by the oper-
ators, who say that this would be inn
practicable by reason of the varying con-
ditions existing in the region and at the
collieries.
I'VE cannot increase wages without ad-
vancing the price of coal, and we are
not willing to advance the price of COAL
IS the reply to the demand for a general
increase in wages.
Will Not Collect Dues.
The request that the operators shall
collect from, each empoye certain stated
sums for the support of the mine workers
union is denied on the ground that las
matter of policy we would not make
such an agreement as you request and
as a platter of law we not permitted
to make it."
The operators decline to agree to any
change in the board of conciliaton as
established by the anthracite coal strike
commission, taking the ground that the
system proposed by the miners would
simply involve the creation of a series
of minor boards. whose decisions might
be conflicting, and from which appeals
would have to be taken to an arbitrator.
thereby creating more delay than now
exists. The complaint of the miners that
the board of conciliation does not act
promptly, the operators declare to be
not warranted by the facts The demand
for a new sliding wage scale Is denied
on the ground that the sliding scale fixed
by the anthracite coal strike commits
sion covers practically all the propositions
in the proposed new scale.
Demands of Mine Workers.
The demands of the NINE workers. which
were prepared by a committee of seven
with John Mitchell as chairman, were
forwarded to President Baer chairman of
n similar commission representing the
anthracite operators on February q. They
sought to provide for an agreement be-
tween the representatives of the United
Mine Workers of America and the va
rious anthracite operating companies that
certain wages, rates, hours of labor and
conditions of employment should become
effective April /. 1906 and continue in
effect until April 1, 1907. The proposals
included the establishment of eight
hour day for all persons covered by the
agreement. a readjusted scale of wages
with an increase of 10 per cent above
the award made by the strike commits
sion for contract miners; new sliding
scale providing for an increase. of l per
cent in wages for all mine workers af-
fected by the agreement for each in
crease of cents in the average price
of coal in the sizes known CRATE, egg,
stove and chestnut sold at. or near New
York above $3.50 per ton. the rate of
compensation in no case to be less than
that fixed in the agreements: the recogni-
tion of mine committee from the union
with full authority to take up with the
officials of a company any dispute or
grievance which may arise al a collery.
In case of failure of the mine COM
mittee and the officials of the company
TO bring about settlement, the grievance
under the plan proposed by the miners
would be referred to the officials of
the district. who would take the matter
up with the general superintendent or
manager of the company for adjustment
In event of failure of these officers TO
agree. the compainants then might put
the grievances and the company's an
swer before the board of concilation. 1t
was proposed that the whole anthracite
coal region be divided into three districts
and that the board of conciliation be