The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-18
OPERATORS WILL NOT YIELD.
FLAT REJECTION OF MINERS
LAST PROPOSITION.
They VIII. However. Agree to the Plan OF
Referring TO the strike Commission
the Wages and Complaint Questions
-Hssdy to Try Is EesuUasEAakt.

-Seray lT&sM~EHesupeaEAADs'
The formal answer Of the anthracite
operators committee Of seven to the last
proposition Of the committee of the anthra-
cite mine Y orkers was sent by the operators
yesterday afternoon to John Mitchell, after
a meeting in the Jersey Central Building,
1t IL an unqualified rejection Of all the
propositions of the miners.
While the letter does not say specifically
that the operators last offer still holds
good, it was declared Last evening that IL
holds good until n break comes, as hoes
also the alternative offer to continue tbs
agreement under the award of the anthra-
cite strike commission for three years
longer.
The operators feel hat they are under no
pledge To refrain from attempting to resume
work, as the suspension is to all intents and
purposes looked on as a strike. Prepare
tions are being made by the operators for
strike emergencies and the starting up Of
the washeries is the entering wedge in
breaking the deadlock
The letter of the operators reviews briefly
the situation and then points out that the
offer for an agreement with the COMMITTEES
as representatives Of the anthra cite mine
WORKERS. instead OF Wl'D Ine Nnlltu Wits
Workers direct, is merely n matter of form
inasmuch as the miners committee repre-
sents thet nited Mine Workers and Mitchell's
last proposition provides in several in
stances for action by "'he officers" and
"the district officers"
The letter continues;
This proposition THAT Of the mInersl re-
strcts production by strictly limiting hours
80 IoLAr n,l rrA,.iItn- tkat M ,tna aon
work in more than one chamber. or have
more than two laborers II seeks to ~equalizs
wages with reference merely to the name of
the employees position, and not at all TO his
capacity or the work which he actually does:
IL provides that no new veins or collieries can
be opened without an arbitration as to wages,
and that no contract of employment can be
terminated without an arbitration; IL makes
the employers the agents of the union to aid
il in levying upon the wages of the employees
the dues fixed by the union. it provides for i'll
crease in wages and rates Of payment which
would approximate 2l.8 per cent, and would
increase the cost of the domestic sizes of coal
about Sl.20 per ton. and 1t suggests diluting
the present Cancellation hoard into thres
boards having coordinate powers. 1t pro-
vides still further that the arrangement ifo-
posed shall continue in force merely for
one year.
The above provisions. other than those re-
garding wages and the adjustment OF COM
plants. concern radical and fundamental
principles in reference to the management
of the business which are vital to its success.
These questions have all been settled by the
award of the Strike Commission. which has
established the existing conditions. y
So far as concerns the matter of wages
ard adjustment of complaints, We have
offered to submit to the members Of the Strike
Commission the question whether any changes
in conditions have occurred since the award
of the commission requiring that the award
should be modified as To those matters. and
if so, how it should be changed.
Those are the only subjects in regard TO
which you have made the least suggestion
that conditions have changed since the award
of the commission. and as to those no facts
in support of that suggestion have been
made public. The fundamental principles
| regarding the conduct of this business have
all been established by the Strike Commits.
sion. No reason is suggested why they
should be retired. As to the only matters
regarding which you have made the least
suggestion that conditions have changed,
we have suggested that the existence and
effect of such change be considered by the
Strike Commission, and that its award be in
force for three years. so that political con-
siderations may have as little influence a.
possible upon these business questions.
You are responsible for the suspension Of
work. There was no good reason for order
ing the men to stop work pending our nego-
tiations. which had been delayed by you.
especially in view OF the fact that we were
willing to continue to pay the wages fixed
by the Strike Commission.
We have no other suggestions 10 make than.
those contained in our former propositions,
and we regret that YOU have declined both
Of them. We have nothing further to offer.
There was more speculation yesterday
as TO the distribution of the reserves OF
anthracite held by the anthracite operators.
1t was stated that the travelling public
will nave its interests looked after.
The elevated railroads and the subway
will not be allowed to want coal, said a
dealer. Though the elevated roads we're
run by steam during the last strike, the
traffic has increased greatly and more
coal is now required for the powerhouses
of the subway and the elevated roads than
was required for the locomotives Of the
| elevated roads IN the last strike"