The Oskaloosa herald., 1906-03-29
THE FINAL CRASH
NEAR AT HAND
OPERATORS AND MINERS HAVE A
HEATED SESSION.
STRIKE MAY NOT BE GENERAL
G. G. Hammond Asks For Miners
Committee or Roosevelt Commit
tee to Examine His Books
Vote is Delayed.

Secretary Edwin Perry of the Iowa
Mine Workers is without advice from
Indianapolis, which fact he regards
as significant of the hope of definite
settlement rather than Of disagree
ment. In reply to a statement from
Des Moines to the effect that Des
Meines district miners were ready to
go out at once, he stated that there
could be no truth in such story, as
Iowa district workers would stay by
their contracts and agreements.
Locally, an abundance of fuel is on
hand for small consumers, and is free
ly offered and delivered. Large con-
sumers who now have cars in their
possession and unloading, will have
same cars reloaded again BY Satur-
day. All other output is being taken
by railroad companies and stored ana
no shipments of fuel are moving to
foreign or outside dealers or consum.
ers.
Mr.Perry regards the situation more
hopeful than otherwise and thinks
some sort of statement will come
from indianapolis whicn will permit
continuation of mines on some basis,
and that no strike will be developed.
A telegram from Des Moines states
that no coal Is for sale at that place
today.
Mr.. Perry leaves the city this even
ing to be in DesMoines Thursday with
President John p White in joint ses-
sion Of the Iowa Scale Committee.
Indianapolis, March 2S.-The min
ers and operators promptly met in
conference this morning and at once
resumed the discussion of j. H. Win
der's motion to adopt the. present
wage scale with the basing point at
Danville, H., and Hooking Valley,
Ohio.
New York, March 2S.-- Asserting
that there had been an oyerproduction
of anthracite coal during the last few
years the effect of which upon the
price could not be foretoid, a state
ment was made on behalf of the an
thracite coal operators today which
pointed out that the wages of the min
ers were protected at all events. This
is the statement in full:
"The effect of the decision of the
Anthracite Coal Commission appoint
led by President Roosevelt was that,
after the commission had increased
u q oac-Ey hich .incraaca an,ountod -
cording to the statement made by the
miners officials, as set forth in the
report of the secretary-treasurer OF
the Ninth district, to an average or
from Il per cent to 81 per cent on eY-
cry dollar earned'-a furtner possible
advance of five cents per ton on the
price of prepared sizes, was awarded.
In other words, the increased wages
were fixed as the minimum wages the
miners would receive, under all cir
cumstances, and without reference to
the price at which the coal was sold,
provided the price at which it was
sold did not exceed $3.50 per ton (in-
cluding freight) I. 0. b. New York Har.
Dor.
Whenever the price in New York
Harbor exceeds $4.5U per ton, the
wages of the miners are increased 1
per cent for each fvc cents per ton
advance in the price of coal. But, at
ter the price of coal falls below $3.50
I. o. b. New York Harbor, the miners
wages are not reduced. They never
fall below the minimum fixed by the
commission, but they may increase
largely, and they have Increased as
much as s per cent because of the riss
in price of prepared sizes.
This is, as the commission says, a
proft-sharing system, under which the
miners get full and fair proportion
of an increase in the profits OF the
business. This is complete answer
to the miners demand for an increase
of pay, No such increase can be
granted without advancing the price
of coal. But, under existing arrange
ments, If the price of coal is advanced,
the wages are also advanced. There
fore, no change is required to enable
the miners to share in any increased
prosperity.
"The commission, it will be observ.
ed, did not think this sliding scale
would give any increased wages to the
miners, but in this it was mistaken.
because exceptional circumstances en-
abled the operators to advance the
price of prepared sizes Of coal to meet
the large increase Of wages. But an
overproduction of bituminous coal and
lessened consumption Of anthracite,
by reason of competition and weather
conditions. has likewise caused an oy-
reproduction Of anthracite coal. What
effect this may ultimately hayo on the