The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-14

With the miners in session at Angels
Camp and the mine owners in confer
ence in San Francisco, serious consider
alton has been given during the last
few days TO the strike situation in the
mountain counties, but no solution of
the difficulty has presented itself Sew
eral Thousand men are out and the
mines remain idle on the mother lode
The question at issue is the interpre
tation of the new eight hour law. The
main difference appears to center about
the Is minutes consumed by the men in
reaching their underground stations
from the surface Of the mines. The
miners contend that this should be con-
sidered part of the eight hours. The
mine owners argue that the eight hour
work day does not begin to operate un-
til>the men reach their stations.
TWO SCHEDULES PREPARED
Whe western federation of miners is
holding a session at Angels Camp.
Charles Meyer. who was a leader of the
federation in Colorado, is on the scene
taking an active interest in the events
The sessions will continue until May
II. Meetings have been held in San
Francisco by the California miners as
sociation, of which w. c. Ralston is
president. Each side mas drawn up q
schedule of hours which it desires to
enforce. That presented by the mine
owners is as follows:
Gas a. m.-Men report at top OF shaft.
y m--work TO stop for luncheon.
I2:45 p. m.-Work resumed.
3:45 p. m.-Work 10
p. m.-Men reach the top.
The schedule proposed by the miners is as fol-
lows;
a m-Men to enter cages at top Of shaft
Il m.-Work TO stop for luncheon.
1890 p. m.-Work resumed.
$3.50 D. m.-Work to cease.
p m.-All men to be out Of the mine.
LAW EFFECTIVE MAY 10
The law over which the misunder
standing has. arisen was passed by the
last legislature and went into effect
May 10. The statute provides that the
period of employment for all persons
working in underground mines shall
not exceed eight hours in any "a.
Among the large mines affected by
the walkout are the following: Zeila,
employing 200 men; Kennedy, 800 men;
Argonaut, $50 men: South Eureka, 1875
men; keystone, $50 men; Little ANA
dor, % men; Bunker Hill. 100 men; Ere
mont Consolidated. $50 men.
The wages at these mines are said to
have averaged $3.50 to SO a day
The trouble has extended TO large
percentage of the mines of the state
and thousands of men are involved. 1t
is said that the strike has tied up a
payroll of 100000 a month
, OWNERS ATTACK THE LAW
The mine owners have taken steps
TO test the constitutionality OF the
new law. They say that it is in many
respects a duplicate of that passed in
Colorado and since declared unconsti-
tutional. The miners on the other hand,
point out that similar laws have been
passed in Nevada and Utah and upheld
by the higher courts. A fund is being
raised by the mine owners to fight the
law in the courts. For this purpose a
tax of 80 cents for every man employed
has been levied on the owners in the
association.
The affairs of the California miners
association are directed by an execu-
tive committee composed of Charles G.
Yale. Edward Coleman. C. w. Cross.
Ross f. Browne, Thomas Clark. Lewis
T. Wright, S. B. Christy. e. B. Braden.
Frank p. Griffin, b. NJ. Newcomb, F. w.
Bradley. Frank II. Buck. Colonel George
Stone, George w. starr. j. d. McGil-
vray. A. Carrigan, A. Hamilton, Louis
Sloss, j. J. Hamlyn and Louis Rosen-
field.