Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-08-07
LABOR SITUATION
IN BINGHAM
Committee from Miners Union
Visits Mine Managers and
Asks for More Pay.
WHICH CANNOT BE GRANTED.
Logical Reasons Givcn--Lowcring of
Market Prices of Copper,
Fuel Famine, Etc.

| Miners employed In the mines of
Bingham have asked for higher wages,
but there is ;ittle or no likelihood that
any change will be made right away
in the present schedule, and the COM
mittee representing the Bingham Min
ers' 1nion, which has been interviewing
the manag gers of the various compan-
les yesterday afternoon and today, have
been so informed The situation was
discussed thoroughly by members of
the committee and the managers and
judging from what can be ascertained
this afternoon, there is a very remote
probability of any serious trouble be-
ing precipitated. that the cordial rela-
lions which have existed between the
mining companies and their employees
In the past will continue indefinitely.
For several weeks paTk khsre have
been rumoI4 flying thick and fast to
the effect that the miners of the Bling
ham camp would make demand for
more pay and some have gone so far as
to predict that unless the demands
were granted strike would be called.
But this committee made no such de-
mands. The members came simply to
have a little heart to heart talk with
the men who give them employment
They wanted to know IL IL is possible
to get more money for their days labor.
But they could not have chosen
more inopportune time to ask the COM
panies TO give them more money. in
view of such chaotic conditions as en-
list In the copper market Mt this very
moment and when further drop in the
price of this metal seems inevitable.
This fact was explained TO the members
OF the committee. They were also told
of some of the trials and tribulations
that the mine managers have had to
experience during the past year in the
matter of getting fuel to run the mines.
mills and smelters and a few things
they did not know before about the
difficulty they had been subjected to in
getting ore to market over the tracks Of
the Rio Grande Western railroad. which
Is badly in need OF more equipment to
handle its Bingham business. 1t was
also pointed out to the visitors that
the chances OF getting fuel sufficient to
run them through the winter looks
very gloomy and that n curtailment in
output was among the probabilities for
the future So under such conditional
as these. they could not very well en-
tertain any proposition looking toward
an advance In the existing wage scale.
The wages paid In Bingham are as
high as in any camp In the state, the
scale running from $3.50 to $3.50 per
day. ri is said the men have wanted
an advance of 30 cents day, which
would mean the distribution of 100000
additional per month, II such n raise
were granted. The companies made
voluntary raise of 10 per cent during
the early part of the year and With is
to remain In force wniIe copper sells
above rs cents per pound.
The meeting between the managers,
and the committee were of q most cor
dial nature and It is believed that II the
miners look at the situation in the right
light. they will keep right on at work
and therefore cause no breech in the re-
lations now prevailing