Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-04-27
TERMS OF COAL
SETTLEMENT
0 Per Cent Increase and
Partial Recognition
BUT NO CLOSED SHOP"
Agreement VIII BE Submitted to the
General Committee In New York on
May 2.

General Committee In New York on
May 2.
abolition OF the sliding scale and a
partial recognition OF the union. These
are the terms OF four years agree
ment reached by the subcommittee
OF the miners and operators who have
been meeting In New York to adjust
the present difficulties. This agree
ment will be submitted to the general
committee of the miners and oper-
ators at a meeting to be held In New
York on May 2. and II 10 practically
certain that the general committee
will abide by the agreement OF the
subcommittee.
Although no statement was issued
by the subcommittee upon its ad-
journment. the details Of the proposed
agreement were learned from an au.
thoritative source. The increase in
wages recommended cuts In half the
20 per cent demanded by the miners.
The partial recognition of the union
mittees. who will be permitted to adj
Just differences with the mine fore
men.
The United Mine Workers of Amer
lea will not be recognized to such an
extent as to make the collieries a
'closed shop" but the representatives
of the union will be privileged to sign
the next contract in their official ca
pacity The union also will be granted
the right of selecting colliery commit
tees. according to reliable Information,
so that future grievances may be set
tied more speedily than Is possible
through the present Cancellation board
The same informant says that the
colliery committees. new departure
In hard coal mining working agree
ments. though for some time feature
of bituminous mining customs. will be
privileged to take grievances imme-
diately to the mine superintendent
for adjustment II the committee and
the bosses" cannot agree. they are
privileged. under the prospective set
Element plans. to call in as arbitrator
the district president OF the union In
the region where the trouble origi
mated. II he is unable to adjust the
difficulty the arbitration board will be
the last recourse.
During the nine years operation of
the sliding scale. the operators say.
the miners have benefited by total
OF 2S.000o0O In premiums. The union.
however. has contended that the profit
accruing to the operators from the
same source must have been four
times as great.
The sliding scale expired with the
contract that had run the full three
years on April |. The operators would
now restrict its benefits by the sug-
gestion that the miners receive | per
cent when coal is higher by five cents
a ton than S4.75 at tidewater. This
would practically abolish the sliding
scale.
Herein lies the deliberation Of the
subcommittee. II the operators grant
5.26 per cent increase in wages and
allow the old sliding scale TO continue.
1t Is contended that they would be
allowing the men practically 10 per
cent. The union ha,'s ON the $40 per
cent suggestion without the sliding
scale. The operators are believed 70
be read yto agree on this feature OF
the protrected deliberations.
No other dem-nds OF the men VIII
be granted. ii Is said. so that the set
Element plan involves simply the in
crease in wages suggested. an open
shop" with strings tied to the union
and the inauguration of colliery griev.
ance committees.