South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-10-06
MINERS WIN IN
FIGHT FOR RAISE
OF WAGE SCALE
Operators Today Will Ask
Fuel Administration for
Revision Upward in
Coal Prices.

WASHINGTON. Oct g. Btu
minous coal miners OF the central
competitive held won their fight for
a general wage increase Friday
night when operators and miners
representatives in conference here
reached a compromise agreement on
the terms Of a new contract The
agreeme nt presages a wage raise
throughout the industry since the
central feld scale serves as a basis
for all other districts and a conse-
quent advance in the governments
fixed price for coal
Operators representative agreed
20 the new wages on condition that
they be absorbed in higher coal
prices. After the agreement drawn
by q subcommittee is ratified Satur-
day by the full conference they will
go TO the fuel administration and
ask a revision upward OF present
coal prices 70 meet the raise. The
wage increase, according TO opera
tors estimates. will add from 50 to
so cents a ton 10 the cost of pro-
ducing coal I'm thick vein mines and
considerably more in mines contain
ing the thinner veins.
The new contract will contain pro-
visions 10 prevent strikes and lock-
outs and will be so drawn as TO
make il impossible for either opera
tors or miners TO break IT on the
grounds of changed conditions. II
will run for the duration Of the war.
provided the war does not continue
more than two years.
Here arc the New Wages.
Under the agreement an increase
of 10 cents a ton will be paid for
pick and machine mining as against
the miners first demand for Is
cents: day labor will be advanced
$1.40 a day instead Of the $50 ask
ed. The pay for yardage and dead
work will be increased 10 percent
instead Of 20 percent demanded.
Trappers will get IS cents day
raise, and other boys 81.
The conferences began nearly two
weeks ago. At first it appeared the
two sides would have the greatest
difficulty in getting together. The
first demands of the miners were
met by an offer of q slight increase,
which the miners promptly refused.
The miners then made counter
proposal reducing their demands.
and this offer finally was accepted
by the operators virtually as il stood.
The length Of time the contract
should run was one of the most
difficult questions. The miners ask
ed that il be made for two years.
but the operators. fearing the war
might end suddenly and demoralize
the coal industry. held out for
contract to last only throughout the
war. The compromise was fairly
satisfactory TO both sides.
Guarantee Against Strikes.
Provisions penalizing strikes and
Iockouts and making II impossible
to terminate the contract at will
were insisted on by the operators.
who sought some guarantee that the
miners would not seek further in
! creases during the life of the CON
tract The demands just granted in
! part were made despite the fact that
a contract made last April still is in
| existence.
In seeking a revision of coal
prices TO meet the wage increases.
operators. it Is understood, will ask
/ the fuel administration for an addi-
tional increase in prices to cover
| higher mining costs generally. Op-
I orators in many fields are contend
| ing they cannot mine coal at a profit
at the prices fixed by Pres't Wilson
and that any increases must Of ne
! cessity more than cover the wage
raises.
John P. White. president Of the
United Mine Workers, said Friday
night the increased wages would
stimulate production and prevent
mine employees from leaving the
mines.
with wages sufficiently attractive
| 20 hold the men in their places at
/ the mines and with an adequate car
4 supply. operators and miners" he
said. will endeavor to cooperate to
4 increase production 70 meet ade-
! quately every need OF the nation.
| The agreement reached will enable