Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-02-22
Coal Operators of Iowa Con-
cerned Over Probable Action
of Employees
in Their Contracts-Financia Condi-
tons May Not Be Ready for lt-In
Favor of Currency Expansion Leeis
lation.
Special to Times Republican.

Des MoineS Feb. 22.--Coal mine OPP
orators of this district, which includes
Iowa and northern Missouri, are APP
preaching the conference with the
miners. March II, to adjust a scale for
the coming year, with considerable APP
prehension.
That the miners will demand a con-
tract providing their pay shall be semi
monthly in currency is a foresone con-
clusion. A similar contract has been
in force during the past year, and it
worked considerable embarrassment to
the operators, threatening disaster to
many communities. When the financial
to resort to clearing house basis of
operation, the miners absolutely re-
fused to accept clearing house GER
tificates in place Of money. despite the
recommendation of the president that
they do SO. 1t was only thru heroic
effort on the part Of bankers and bus
mess men that Il strike at this critical
time of the year was aVerted. Business
men deposited all the money they could
secure and banks gave practically all
they had to pay the miners in cash.
Miners have been considering the
matter and it is understood they will
insist on the cash payment clause in
their next years contract. This means
something. In the Des Moines sub
u ~; har O00 p,inarS and the
semi-monthly pay roll amounts to over
$4,000. In this district there are 3D.
900 coal miners demanding a semi
monthly salary Of over 100000.
Operators who have observed the
slow commercial times and fear that
unless.some national precaution is tax
en- by congress, there will be a repeti-
ton of currency shortage this fall, may
take up the matter with Iowa congress
men and demand the passage of the
financial bill now before that body.
Local operators say that tho this meas
ure may not be accepted by congress-
men as their ideal or as permanent So
luton Of the currency situation, 1t Is
imperative that temporary renef pei
provided for the emergency they fear
will arise. The inactivity on the part
of the national legislation on the mon
ey question is making them nervous.
They are anxious to see an Adjustment
before April 1, when the present con-
tract with the miners expires and the
new will Begin. 1t is probable nego-
tiations between operators and miners
will extend from March II to this time.
The passage of this law, operators be-
TN, hi n iS.
trict to raise emergency money on col
lateral which they now hold acceptable
to miners, whereas clearing house SER
titicates are not acceptable.
Miners who have talked OF the mat
ter take logical view of the law
which proposes to make county and
bonds collateral for emer-
gency currency from the United States
treasury. They say that county ana
municipal bonds represent largely
their own property, as they are reap
ing the benefit from these and they are
their own guarantee of payment.
Therefore they say such bonds should
be collateral with the government FOR
medium when necessary
Municipal and county bonds, they say.
are the peoples promise to pay ana
they believe in the people.
The conference Of operators and
miners will be held in Des Moines.
Iowa's railroad commission yesterday
denied the application of the railroads
for the PRONUNCIATION of what is known
as the southern rule governing
charges on shipments Of less than 100
pounds.
1t was stated by the railroad repre-
sentatives that if Iowa denied the APP
plication in all probability it would re-
suit in the withdrawal of the rule as
to interstate shipments 1t was put
into force recently and the railroads
have asked the western classification
Minnesota, Illinois and
announce the same rule.
There now is in force in Iowa, the |