Norwich bulletin., 1912-03-16

present agreement. The statement
says:
Statement Of the Operators.
''The Jmmittee of the anthracite
operators have today met the repre-
sentatives Of the anthracite mine
workers in conference. and have re-
ceived from them a formal answer de-
clining to modify their demands. In
order that the public may have with
out delay a full understanding of our
attitude, we unite in issuing the fol-
lowing statement:
Conditions Unchanged Since 1909.
"We claim for the award of the
strike commission no more than this:
That the commission prosecuted for
months q conscientious and pa1nstak-
ing Investigation of the problems pre-
sented to it; that, by the terms of its
appointment, the object of its award
was to establish the relations between
the employers and the wage earners
in the anthracite region on a just and
permanent basis; that nothing was
advanced in tine conference of 1906
and 1909 to cast doubt upon the wis
dom Of the award, and no new condi-
ton Is now brought forward, nor have
the facts and issues then covered since
been changed.
Have Provided Every Safeguard.
Minor notifications and additions
have been made, some at the request
Of the mine workers, and others have
been effected by the operators upon
their Cwn initiative. The operators
have always stated, and today again
assured the mine workers committee,
that they were ready to meet them
and to give consideration to any sug-
gestion urged by them. The strike
commission took into consideration the
hazards Of the business and SO stated
in its award. Moreover, it is known
that the anthracite owners have not
spared care nor expense in affording
protection to mine workers. Not only
have they provided the best equip
ment aud safety devices but they have
done and are doing more to educate
their employees than Is done in other
industries. The government Of the
United States has accepted the stand
ards established by the anthracite op-
orators, for the purpose of carrying on
its work in that direction.
Work Less Than Eight Hours.
"The anthracite business, unlike the
bituminous, is a mixed industry. The
production is the work of the miner,
who works lass than eight hours a
day. The manufacturing is conducted
at the breakers in the preparation Of
the several sizes of coal for the mar
ket The miners in the anthracite re-
gion dc not work longer hours than
do those employed in the bituminous
mines. White it is conceded that the
! cost IF living has increased, it must
be remembered that the advance in
wages awarded to the mine workers
! by the strike commission was based
upon the then existing conditions.
An Increase of Working Days.
Among these was the limited oppor-
| tunity for work, 165 days in the year,
as shown by the average figures for
the period from 1897 to 1901. Since
then the opportunities for work have
steadily increased, until in the year
| 1911 ihere were go days. In addition
to the twenty-six and four -tenths per
cent, increase in the rate of wages in
| the year 1911 over the year 1900, there
was an increase of As per cent. in the
number of working days. so that the
mine workers had the opportunity to
that extent to increase further their
earnings.
Not Fair to Public to Advance Wages.
I'VE again emphasize the statement
that it is impossible for the operators
to advance wages unless they can in
some manner realize from the sale OF
the coal produced a sum equal to tSe
increase II Wages. 1t is not possible
to increasa.sfhe price of the steam
sizes on account of the competition OF
nituninous coal. and it does not seem
fsiBs and there would appear to be
nothing insSthe condition of the mine
workers to warrant the advance in
the price e. .sfhe public