Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1914-02-20
nINERS' S'DEMANDS
ARE REJECTED
Operators Turn Down Request
For Higher Tay.
WANT AGREEMENT CONTINUED
Declare Business Does Not Justify
Further Advance and Say Wages
Should Sc Reduced.


The bituminous operators OF west
ern Pennsylvania, ohio, Indiana and
Illinois, who are Joint conference III
Philadelphia with representatives OF
the United Mine Workers Of America,
refused to grant the miners demands
for higher wages and other conces-
sions.
Instead, the operators propose that
the Cleveland agreement OF l9lz'
which covers the four fields in ques'
ton, and expires on April l, be con-
tinued until 1918, with certain eXcep'
tions. The operators declare that the
miners in these fields are now recelV-
ing the highest wages in the bltuuln-
Gus mining industry.
Business does not justify 1urther
advance in the price of the coal, the
operators assert, and they say that In
stead of increasing the wages OF the
miners, they should reduce them.
The miners representatives voted
to decline the operators new PROPOSE
ton that the present contract be con-
tinued for four more years. A motion
was then made by the operators tnat
the miners demands be considered IN
their order. This was carried.
The first demand Of the miners was
discussed for several hours. 1t calls
for payment for bituminous on what
is known as mine run" basis, mean
ing the coal as it comes from the COL
lieries with the screenings and the
slate In it.
No decision was reached on this de-
mand.
The operators report was no sur
prise, as it had been limited since the
conference opened on Tuesday that
they would refuse to grant the de-
mands.
The operators statement begins
with a review of the miners demands
for a five cents a ton increase at the
basing point, ten per cent increase
on dead work, yardage and day Ia
bor," and other concessions.
The following additional provisions
and exceptions are proposed by the op-
orators for continuance Of the CleVe'
land agreement Of 1912:
"First-In entering into agree
ment the rights of the employers and
of the owner of property must be re-
cognized, and these rights can only be
modified or abridged by the specific
terms in such agreement stipulated.
"Second-That the machine differ
entail in Illinois and Indiana must be
adjusted Oh q basis that will be more
favorable to the operators of these
states.
"Third-We demand that in any
contract entered into the so-called
check-off or collection OF dues or as
sessments as the miners union have
heretofore levied or assessed and col
lected by the check-off system through
the operators be discontinued.
"Fourth-The establishment OF a
court of last resort In which disputes
which threaten the suspension of prop
erty shall be taken and by that means
avoid the altogether too prevalent and
notorious practice by the United Mine
Workers local and state bodies OF en-
forcing settlement on their own terms
In violation of the provisions Of the
agreement.
"Fifth-Provide penalties In the
form of stipulated fines for violation
of contracts by both parties when
properties are closed in violation OF
the agreement.
"Sixth-For the protection OF life
and property the operators to employ
such supervising officers as they may
deem necessary shall not be dominat-
ed by the United Mine Workers In
any respect"