The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-12
SITUATION is GRAVE:
STRIKE MAY RESULT
DR.. Neill, Commissioner of Labor,
Has Conference With John
Mitchell and Believed to /
Represent President,
Who Will Seek
Settlement. /
(By Associated Press.)

tions OF the United Mine Workers OF
America for u readjustment of wages
and conditions In the anthracite coal
fields as whole, have been denied by
the committee representing the anthra-
cite operators.
AS contemporaries the operators
suggest that the awards made by the
anthracite coal strike commission, the
principles upon which they were estab-
lished by the commission, and the meth
DDS established for carrying out their
findings and awards, shall BE- continued
for further term Of three years from
the first day of April, 1906.
The present agreement terminates on
March 3lst of this year.
Announcement of the anthracite operas
ter's decision and their counter PROPOSE
ton was made tonight In long state
ment. This includes the correspondents
on the subject at issue between Presi-
dent John MITCHELL. OF the United Miners
action for the miners and George II.
Baer. president OF the Philadelphia and
Reading Coal and Iron Company. for the
operators. The miners proposition are
discussed 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 Ey the
strike commission.
Not Recognize the Union.
The demand OF the miners that the epe-
rators enter into an agreement with the
union. is declined on the ground that
the anthracite operators stand unalter-
ably for the open shop. and again de-
cline to make an agreement with the
United Mine Workers of America. an or
ganizntion controlled BY q rival Indus
OF the demand for an eght-hour day,
the statement says the operators know
of no change In conditions 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 reduction from ten to nine hours
should not result in any decrease in tha
output OF the Mines" has not been real
ized and adds:
I'VE might Justly say that with
the experience OF the past three years.
the ten-hour day should be restored:
but we are willing to abide by the de-
cision of the commission.
The proposition that uniform scale
of wages be established in the anthracite
fields is met by the operators with tho
reply that this would he impracticable
by reason of the varying capacities OF
the workmen the varying conditions ex-
isting in the region and atsthe collieries.
Higher Wages Mean Higher Coal.
I'VE 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 general
increase in wages. The request that the
opera tors shall collect from each en-
ploye certain stated sums for the support
of the mine workers union is denied on
the ground that ''as a matter of policy
we would not make such an agreement
as you request and as matter OF law,
We are not permitted to make It,"
The opera tors decline to agree to any
change In the board of conciliation 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 delays than now
exist The complaint OF the miners that
the board Of Cancellation does not act
promptly, the operators declare to be
not warranted by the fucts.
The demand for n 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.
The statement concludes:
1T is not to the interest OF employers
and employees. nor of the public. to have
the mining business, MS we'll as the gem
eral business and comfort OF the peo-
pie, seriously disturbed by these yearly
contentious, 1t is peculiarly fortunate.
therefore, that existing conditions have
all been the result OF arbitration by third
uersons, so that neither party can say
that 1t has not had due consideration.
There can be no doubt that the good of
all concerned Will be served best by
adhering to the results thus reached"
Reasons for the Plea.
President Mitchell, acting for tho min-
8ers committee, in letter to the COM
mttee of operators, outlined the reasons
upon which the demands of the miners
were based as follows:
I'VE favor u scale of wages for men
paid by the day. hour or week, because
OF the fact that men performing precisely
the same character, and indeed. the
same amount of labor cannot work with 81
any degree OF contentment while the
compensation received by them Is not
uniform. At the present time. this con-
dltion exists IN the anthracite fields. We
feel that the proposition which we nave
submitted, fixing uniform rates for sm-
liar classes of labor, will appeal favor-
ably to the members OF your committee
and that the rates themselves are ems
tirey conservative and not in excess OF
rates paid to men performing practically.
If not exactly, the same class nt labor
in bitumlnoiis mines.
I'VE propose an increase OF ten per
cent in the rates paid 10 contract miners
for several reasons First, the general In
dustrial, commercial and trade conditions
of the country justify an Increase of
wages to all classes os labor. The pros-
perity of the coal-carrying roads is ,n-,