Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-07

gives the NGTulct WHICH Is uHdt. All 10
of questions have been submitted-com-
plants from men who think they were
not paid enough for overtime, from
those who suspected that they were not
allowed full weight for their coal. from
those who were discharged without cause
and for individual as well as general
grievances. Only twenty-five Of the COM
plants originated with the operators.
which were nearly all based upon the
violations of rules laid down by the
Roosevelt strike commission in 1902. In
almost every case the operators have been
sustained, chiefly because the Offenders
were willing to admit the acts complained
of.
| Strike Causes Settled.
Any one of hundred of the cases sub
mitted to the Cancellation board contained
| the germs of strike. but they have been
settled peacefully. and. so far as an out
slider can ascertain. the verdict has been
| accepted cheerfully. At least every one
| seems to be satisfied with the concila-
| ton board except the officials of the
| unions, who realize that this method OF
settling disputes weakenS the organiza-
| ton and leaves little excuse for its eX-
| iStence. If the men can take their COM
plants directly to a tribunal with COM
| pulsory authority. what is the use of the
| organization. and what is the use of pay
ing dues?
first. for it is intended to concentrate
/ power and authority in the officials OF the
| union and compel the operators 10 treat
| with them whenever there IS anything
to be done. The last clause of the para
| graph, concerning the collection OF the
revenues Of the unions, refers to what the
| miners call the "check-off'' and means
| that the paymasters at the mines shall
/ deduct the monthly dues Of each member
| of the unions from his pay envelopes and
| han to he f,-oo nf r.
| ganization to which he belongs.
Want Companies to Collect Dues.
In other words, the paymasters of the
mine companies are to be the collectors
for the union. That is already done in
many mines in the General and western
states, although the system has never
been introduced into the anthracite re-
gion. Some operators go so far as to
pay lump sums into the treasures of the
| unions in lieu of the dues of the MEM
employed in their mines and the names
| Of all employees are thus kept perma-
nently upon the union rolls. Where this
| is not done the membership Of the unions
and their revenues always fall off rapidly
| in times of peace, and when disputes
arise it becomes necessary to recruit.
| 1t is also a cause of discomfort that
the non-union miners. who pay no dues.
enjoy all the benefits that are secured
by the organization. Therefore the union
| leaders have long been trying to persuade
| the operators to undertake the collec-
| ton of dues and fines on every pay day.
which they have refused on the ground
| that they have no lawful right to deduct
any sum for any purpose from the earn
| ings of their men. And that was the de-
cision of the Roosevelt commission.
The eight-hOur day is a demand that
| is being made by and Is being more
and more generally conceded to organized
\ tor
have always contended that it is not
practical in mining because under the
present system az miner works more or
less time to finish his stunt. according to
conditions, and that necessitates irregular
hours on the part of laborers who COM
plete their job.
Want Work Paid for by Weight.
All miners demand that their work
shall be paid for by weight and not by
the car. as at present, because the cars
vary in size. and the men are often COM
PEELED to get out three thousand pounds
of coal to the car instead Of 2,24O pounds.
to allow for impurities. The operators
however. contend that any other plan is
rejected by the Roosevelt commission, on
the ground that the benefits to be derived
by the miners from the proposed system
would not be of sufficient Importance
would be suffered by the operators. 1t
was decided that better method was to
employ A man to check the weight of
| each car. in order that the miner might
have full credit for all the coal he brings
out from the shaft
The sixth demand which prohibits
miner from carrying on more than one
job in the same shaft, was also rejected,
because it restricts an ambitious and in
dustrious man from making the largest
possible earnings. Under the present sys-
tenn skillful miner can carry on two
or more jobs in the same mine, by en-
ploying a corresponding number of as
sistants. and as he is paid for the coal
produced rather than the time employed
the most efficient and Industrious make
large earnings. The miners themselves
are decidedly opposed TO this demand
for obvious reasons, but the laborers
these who work for fixed wages rather
than by the job. have been very per
siStent in pressing ii.
Will Resist Increase of Wages.
The operators insist that the cost of
mining has increa sed and that at the
same time there has been a decreas Sc
from 20 to- ~ per cent in the efficiency
OF the men, without any corresponding
benefit. The demand for an increase of
wages. therefore. cannot be agreed TO
except at the expense of the public. and
per cent the price of coal will have to
be increased accordingly. This question
was thoroughly discussed before the
Roosevelt commission. which adopted a
sliding scale with a minimum and an
increase whenever the price of coal to
the consumer advanced above n certain
figure. BY the operation of this sliding
scale, it is contended, wages have been
advanced about ) cents a ton for every
ton of coal produced since 1903, and that
nearly S4,00o,OO year additional have
been paid to the miners since 1903 on
that account If the demands contained
in the fifth paragraph were conceded 1t
would cost the public at least 1900, 900
a year.
The seventh demand is not considered
important. as many of the operators have
| conceded the same thing long ago. and
there lis really no objection why all of
them should not do SO, except the add!-
tional expense, which is not serious.
The union leaders are not willing to
discuss the probabilities. and content
themselves, as usual under such circum-
| stances. with saying that their demands
will be insisted upon. even if every an
thra cite mine in the country is compelled
to shut down. The operators are equally
positive and declare that the demands
will not be conceded. because they have
been considered over and over again and
were rejected by the Roosevelt arbitra-
ton for good and sufficient reason.
Champion Whip Cracker.
From the Strand Magazine.
Mr.. Fred Lindsay can WELD with a most