The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-03-22
LITTLE OPERATORS GET
IN ON BIG COAL PROFITS
Contracts to Turn All Output Over
to the Railroads Set Aside
for Three Months. 20
PREPARING FOR A ,STRI KE
Coal Practically Put Up at Auction
Prices Advancing in New York
Soft Coal Situation.

WILKEsBARRE, Pa, March 2i.-Con-
tracts which the larger coal companies
and the coal carrying roads held with the
individual operators OF the anthracite
fields have been temporarily abrogated
For the next three months no effort
will be made to enforce these contracts
and the individual operator will be per-
mitted to dispose of his coal at any price
he can command.
The action Of the big operators in
setting aside these agreements is taken
to mean that the coal companies are
preparing for strike and that con-
sideration is given to the individual
operator no he may prepare financially
for a struggle.
Nearly all OF the smaller operators
in the anthracite fields have contracts
with such companies as the Lehigh VAL
ley, the Delaware. Iackawanna and
Western and the Pennsylvania. These
contracts call upon the smaller COM
panies to turn every pound OF oAl ex-
cept that sold at retail at the colliery
TO the larger companies and the coal
carrying roads. the individual operator
accepting 65 per cent. of the tidewater
price for his output, the. transportation
charges being borne by the roads. .
To let the individual operator sell his
coal at the best prices and share in the
big profits the contracts we're temporarily
set aside. three months being fixed as the
length of the abrogation. \
With this step taken the individual
operators have now got their own selling
agents, They have practically put their
product up at auction and are knocking
it down to the highest bidders. Az
result Of this privilege they are enjoying
extraordinary prosperity and thousands
OF dollars are being dumped into their
treasures.
Mine leaders and mine workers declare
that the contracts are set aside to permit
the smaller operators to prepare for a
struggle. The little companies are always
heavy sufferers in strikes. Spokesman Of
the operators here refuse to discuss the
situation and they will not say VIII at
prompted the abrogation of the contracts.
CLEVELAND. March 2i.-Observers Of
the stubborn conflict between the soft
coal miners and the operators to-day saw
good chance for n settlement of the wage
scale differences that threaten a strike
April I.
Presiden, John Z. White said a suspen-
zion of operation in the entire bituminous
field and probably in the anthracite field
also Will occur the first OF next month
regardless of agreement or disagreement
pending negotiations:
A refer endum would have TO approve
conference or by the union policy COM
mi,tee The negotiations here took the
course ,ha, always precedes a se,rlement
or a disa greement when the operators
to-day voted 20 refuse all except two OF
The union twelve demands. then agreed
with the representatives Of the mine
workers TO put The entire remaining
difference into the hands of a sub scale
,..
mis- committee meets tomorrow and
will try in secret TO frame an agreement
that can be accepted by operators and
men. The committee consists of less than
a score Of men. No record of deliberations
is kept. no word is permitted to be told
Of its proceedings and the members talk
heart TO heart The settlement. II settle 1
ment is TO he. will be the result of this
business session.
Talk of compromise was generally
under the surface tonight, although
apparently both sides We're at swords
points. Although speeches in the con-
ference were vigorous, the utmost good
AL