Omaha daily bee., 1906-03-24
Pittsburg Mine Owner Says He Will Pay
Scale Of Two Years Ago,
CAUSES ROW AMONG OPERATORS
Discussions Occupy Nearly All Time Of the
Conference.
LITTLE REAL PROGRESS is MADE
Pittsburg Independents and One Illinois
Firm Follow Lead of RobbinS
MITCHELL REFUSES TO COMMIT HIMSELF
MITCHELL REFUSES TO COMMIT Himself
Miners Leader Refuses 10 say
whether Contracts VIII BE
signed with Individual
Firms or Not.

lock between the coal operators and miners
Of the central competitive and southwest
ern districts continued throughout the
meetings OF the two Joint scale committees
of the joint conferences today. and when
the meetings adjourned late this afternoon
no agreement had been reached. Both COM
mittecs will meet again tomorrow morn
ing.
The discussion in the scale committee OF
the central competitive district was con-
lined entirely today to arguments among
the operators on the committee and radical
differences OF views were heatedy
pressed by them. The miners were, for the
most part, silent auditors. An effort was
made 20 secure from President Mitchell Of
the Mine Workers an expression as to
whether he considered the Ryan resolution
in effect. This resolution was adopted by
the former joint conference In January and
binds the miners not to sign in any district
until an agreement shall have been reached
in every district Mr.. Mitchell declined to
commit himself
f. r.. Robbins OF the western Pennsyl-
vanla operators was the target today for
several vigorous attacks on his position In
favor OF paying the scale of 1903, which
would mean an advance of 6.55 per cent in
wages IN the district and would comply
with the demands of the miners. one OF
the most heated Of these was made by ]. b.
Zerbe Of Cleveland. who spoke for the Ohio
operators
Position of Ohio Operators.
After paying his respects TO Mr.. Robbins
AIR Zerbo turned to the representatives OF
the miners and said:
For the mere consideration OF dollars and
cents no strike can be justified With you
~ can he only question of dollars and
a. wi sat
fed for the last two years; but you are now
demanding more. Therefore, If you order
led. '' 'O9''''' ~ ''''''
The Ohio operators position is different
They are not now getting fair return for
capital invested and the interest thereon.
Therefore they are standing upon prin-
justified and the responsibility rests wholly
with you
AIR Robbins stated on the floor that he
did not propose to be dictated TO by the
operators of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. He
said his position was fair and just TO all
interests and the Pittsburg Coal company,
which he represented, was willing to pay
the advance in wages asked. He said he
was also willing to pay tho advance at his
own mines in Pennsylvania, Ohio and I'LL
nols. and nc had received notice from an
Illinois coal company having an output OF
100000 tons annually that IL had instructed
It's representatives to vote with him. Mr..
Robbins said the country would not per-
init general strike upon the causes shown.
lie turned to President Mitchell of the Mine
Workers and said he did not believe the
officials OF the miners would dare to refuse
TO allow the miners to work where the de-
mands were met.
Independents stand with Robbins.
G. A. Magoon, representing the western
Pennsylvania independent operators. said
bo rat
the advance and operated it's mines. the in
dependent operators OF western Peensyl-
vania would do the
The dissensions among the operators of
the committee became so heated that the
representatives of the miners were askd
to withdraw for an hour. This was done
and at the end of the period an adjourn
ment of the committee was taken until
tomorrow morning The operators arranged
for conference by states among them
selves tonight.
After the general caucus leading oper-
ators said tonight that nothing whatever
had been accomplished and the situation
was exactly as II was at the beginning OF
the joint conference.
The state eaucuses of the operators held
tonight effected absolutely no change in
the situation.
Arbitration Proposed.
1t was reported before the joint scale
committee OF the southwestern district went
into executive session that the operators
OF that district had decided to make
proposition 10 the miners representatives
that the entire question for the district b'
left to an arbitration board TO be named
by President Roosevelt At the January
joint conference of that district. which was
held here, the operators proposed board
OF arbitration TO be composed OF one judg,
of the supreme courts OF Missouri, Kansas
Texas and Arkansas and the federal dis
- trict judge OF the indian Territory. Thl,
proposition was declined by the miners.
Shortly after the southwest district Join
scale committee met today Presiden
Mitchell made a proposition 10 the opera
tors for the restoration of the 1903 seal,
with per cent added In this district IN,
only reduction OF wages in 1903 was OF
day laborers.
Price of Coal Advanced.
RITTSBURG. March 2S,-The price o
coal In this district is advancing rapid
and large orders are being received fror
manufacturers from Cleveland and as ia
west as Chicago The critical situation a
Indianapolis has caused a rush Of order