The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-09
Representatives of Miners Pre- sent a Modified PrOpOsi-
 ton to the Operators
SOME HOPE PREVAILS OF
 AMICABLE SETTLEMENT
No Statement Is Given Out By the Operators, But 1t Is Said They Have Been Holding On to
 the Old Wage Plan.

Philadelphia, April S.--At the conclusion of two hours conference between tho operators and committee representing the anthracite coal miners, which termi- mated late this afternoon, both sides seem as far from an ultimate solution of the working conditions governing the hard coal fields as ever The miners represen- tatiyes presented a modified proposition In this new proposal the miners agreed to the renewal of the recently expired wage agreement with a few changes
 These changes are provided for in the following language:
 Tt Is further understood and agreed that 1T wages Of emphles have been re- duced during the past three years under the stipulation that 1t was new work or for other cause. such wages shall be re- stored and the same rate of wages as pro- vided by the award of the strike commis- sion for the same kind of work shall re- main in force during the life of this agreement
 Tt is further agreed that the right to hire and discharge is vested exclusively in the manager operator and in all cases of discharge the person or persons discharged shall have the right of appeal, and if it is shown after thorough investi- gation that he or they were discharged without good and sufficient causes shall be reinstated to their former positions. 1 No suspension of operation shall take l place during the investigation and final adjustment of differences that may arise between employer and employee It is proposed that the agreement be signed by the United Mine Workers Of Anthracite" The operators, however, maintain that the United Mine Workers of America were partial to the soft coal interests and therefore always refused to recognize the union. Yesterday the op- orators still refused to recognize the or ganization, aud practically said that the only proposition they had to offer was the renewal of the old wage agreement.
 No statement was given out by the op- orators, and it is not known how they view the proposition Of the miners, carry ing as it does the recognition of the union in a different form than originally pre- sented
 Notwithstanding the fact that several mine workers officials assert that an agreement is not probable at the present time, an opinion prevails that an am- icable settlement will be finally reached
 It was learned tonight that during the conference the first of the added demands of the miners had been practically agreed to by the operators. President Baer, after a brief conference with President w. II. Truesdale of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad company. in refer ence to the dispute over the new work made the following announcement:
 We state officially that hereafter any controversy relating to new work may be submitted to the board of conciliation to determine whether the condition of the veins and the work are the same and if they are found to be the same then tho rates existing on old work shall apply to the new"
 At the request of the miners this was put in writing.