Omaha daily bee., 1906-03-12
BAER'S REPLY IS NO
Anthracite Operators Turn Down Every
Demand of the Men
STAND ON AWARD OF THE COMMISSION
Declines to Enter Into Any Agreement with
United Mine Workers.
NO WARRANT FOR THE uGHT-HOUR DAY
Insists Operators Cannot Pay More Wages
Without Increasing Coal Prices.
OUTLINE or DEMAND or THE MINERS
Uniform Conditions aud Uniform
WAGES at All the Anthracite
Mines the Principal
Contention.
OUTLINE or DEMAND OF THE MINERS

NEW YORK, March 1.-THE propositions
Of the United Mine Workers of America
for read1ustment of wages and conditions
in the anthracite coal fields, as a whole,
have been denied by the committee repre-
sentlng the anthracite operators. As
counter proposition the operators suggest
that the awards made by the anthracite
coal strike commission, the principles upon
which they were established by the COM
mission and the methods established for
carrying out their findings and awards
shall be continued for further term of
three years from April !, 1906 The present
agreement terminates on March 81 Of this
year.
Announcement OF the anthracite opera
tors decision and their counter proposition
made tonight In long formal state
nent which was given out for publication.
This statement, which includes tlie corre-
spondence on the subjects 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 company, for the
operators discusses the miners PROPOSE
tions In detail. In every instance the con-
tention is made by the operators either
that conditions in the coal fields do not
warrant the change 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 opera
tors enter into an agreement with the union
10 declined on the ground that the anthra-
cite operators stand unalterably for the
open shop, and again decline TO make
agreement with the United Mine Workers
Of America. an organization controlled by
rival industry"
Eight-HOur Day Rejected.
OF the demand for an elght-hOur day
The statement says the operators know of
no change In conditions that can be used
to sustain the renewed demand for a re-
duction I'm hours. Declares that the ex-
pectatlon of the strike committee that the
reduction from ten to nine hours should
not result in any decrease In the output
Of the mines" has not been realized and
adds: -, We might justly say that with
the experience Of the last three years the
ten-hour day should be restored. But we
are willing to abide by the decision Of the
commission"
The proposition that a uniform scale of
wages be established in the anthracite
fields is met by the operators with the reply
that this would be imbracticable by reason
Of the varying capacities of the workmen
ana the varying conditions existing in the
region and at the colleries
We cannot increase wages without ad-
vancing the price of coal and we are not
willing 10 advance the price of coal" is
the reply to the demand for general in
crease In wages
The demand that the operators shall
collect from each employe certain stated
sums for the Mine Workers union is de-
MED on tho ground that as matter OF
policy We would not make such an agree
ment as you request and as matter of
law we are not permitted to make IT,"
Deny Miners Assertions.
The operators decline TO agree to any
change In the board of conciliation estab-
lshed by the anthracite coal strike COM
mission, taking the ground that the system
proposed by the miners will impose 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 Cancellation does
not act promptly, the operators declare to
be not warranted by the facts. The de-
mand for new sliding wage scale is de-
MED on the ground that the sliding scale
hxed by the anthracite coal strike com
mission covers practically all the propo-
sitions in the proposed new scale.
PosItIOn of the Miners.
President Mitchell. acting for the miners
committee, in letter TO the committee OF
operators. outlined the reasons upon which
the demands Of the miners were based as
follows,
We favor a uniform scale of wages for
men paid by the day, hour or week, be-
cause ot the fact that men performing pre-
csely the same character. and, indeed. the
same amount of labor. cannot work with
any degree OF contentment while the COM
pensation received by them is not uniform.
in the anthracite field. We feel that the
proposition which we have submitted, fixing
will appeal favorably 20 the members OF
Your committee and that the rates them
In excess Of rates paid to men performing
practically, II not exactly, the same class OF
labor In bituminous mines
We propose an increase OF 10 per cent In
the rates paid 10 contract miners for sew
eral reasons. First, the general industrial,
commercial and trade conditions OF the
country justify AN increase OF wages TO an
classes OF labor. The prosperity OF the
coal-carrying roads Is Unprecedented. as
and the enhanced value of their stocks
We favor Jn eight-hour work day because
eight hours is the standard work day OF
coal mine workers In nearly all the bitu-
minous districts Of our country, as we'll as
IN many OF the lNlNiNb hiSAtlCth OF Giehl
Britain and the continent and eight hours
Is as lOnC as a man can work IN a coal
mine without doing injury TO his own
health and conEeuuept injury to society.
NVe believe that the establishment OF a
maximum eight-hour working day will not
reduce production materially, even II dg-
Ured upon the basis OF the output per man
per working day.
We favor the system OF weighing and
paying Tor coal by weight wherever the
condition OF the vein would make this sys-
TEN practicable, because the present sys-
tenn. whereby coal Is naid for by the car
has given rise 10 such discomfort, owing
10 the varied sizes OF cars now In use and
10 the constant friction which naturally
arises when new cars are built and Intro
duced, and 10 the seemingly Cnceasing de
sire Of the companies 10 have the men
load more coal upon these cars without 4
corresponding decrease in compensation.
We favCT a reconstruction OF the board
OF consultation because of the delays thai
have occurred during the past three years
an the adjustment OF grievances Indeed
there Arf some cases which have been in
the hands OF the hoard Tor two years With
out anal decision having been rendered
CONTINUED on second Pass)