New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-06
Soft Coal Miners
Win Higher Wages;
Prices May Go Up
Operators Grant Increases
on Condition That u. 5.
Raises Rates
Agreement Made
For Central Field
1t Is Basis for All Districts;
Runs for Two Years it
War Lasts

WASHINGTON. Oct. 5.-B.tuminouS
coal miners Of the central competitive
field won their fight for general wage
increase tonight. when operators ana
miners representatives In conference
bore reached compromise agreement
IN the terms Of new contract inc
agreement presages wage raise
,h~orqhout the industry, since the cen
tral field scale serves as a basis Io'
en- other districts and consequent
advance in the governments fixed price
for coal.
ororators' representatives agreed 20
,be new wages on condition that they
be absorbed IN higher coal prices
Af,o~ the agreement, drawn by 8 sub
committee. is ratified tomorrow by
,be full conference they will so to the
fuel administration and ask revision
inward Of present coal prices to meet
the raise. The wage increase accord
inc 20 operators estimates, Will aod
from 35 20 so cents ton TO the cost
Of producing ccal in thick vein mines
an6 considerably more in mines con
tanning the thinner veins.
Contract for Two Years of War
The new contract will contain pro-
visions 70 prevent strikes and lockouts
and will be so drawn as to make 1t I'M
nass;ble for either operators or miners
10 break L on the ground OF changed
conditions. Il Will run for the duration
OF the war. provided the war does not
continue mere than two years.
Under the agreement az increase O!
10 cents ton Will be paid Tor PICK ana
machine mining, as against the miners
frt demand for 10 cents; cav l"oor
viii be advanced Sl.40 a day instead OF
the $3.50 asked; the pay for yarcage
and dead work will be Increased 10
ner cent. instead of 90 per cent de-
mauded. 1rappers will get 20 cents
a day raise and other boys 81.
The conferences began nearly two
weeks ago. The first demands Of the
miners were met by an offer OF slight
increase, which the miners promptly
refused. The miners then made a
counter proposal reducing their de-
mards considerably, and this OFFER
finally was accepted b. the operators
virtually as u stood.
The length of time the contract
should run was ono Of the most dlI--
fcu.t questions. The miners asked
that u be made for two years. but the
operators, fearing the war might end
suddenly and demoralze the coal IN
Custry. held out for "a contract TO last
c-y throughout the war. The com
promise was fairly satisfactory 10 both
sides.
Insisted on Penalizing Strikes
Provisions penaHzing strikes and
lockouts and making it impossible 10
terminate the contract at VIII were m
sisted on by the operators. who sought
some guarantee that the miners would
not seek further increases during the
lie Of the contract. 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
20 meet the wage increases, operators,
IL is understood. will ask the fuel ad-
ministration for an additional increase
in prices 10 cover higher mining costs
generally Operators in many fields
are contondinC they cannot mine coal
al a profit 81 the prices recently fixed
nv President Wilson and that any in
crcases must of necessity more than
cover the wage raises.
John p. White. president Of the
United Mine Workers, said tonight
that the increased wages would stlmd-
late production and prevent mine en-
ployes from leaving the mines.
"With wages sufficiently attractive 20
hold the men In their places az the
mines and with an adequate car sup
rly. operators and miners he said
twill endeavor to cooperate to increase
production 10 meet adequately every
need Of the nation. The agreement
reached will enable men employed IN
and around the mines 10 cope with the
present high cost Of living