Norwich bulletin., 1920-04-01
|SOFT COAL WAGE SCALE IS RATIFIED

the operators were .ijustihedp in in creased prices because of the increase in wages, cost of equipment and over- head expenditures. He said price ad- vances in his territory would range from S1UO to $1.50 at the mine. The operators, according to Mir. Lewis, are attempting to keep prices from ''rt1n- ming away" and prevent "speculatorS" from invading the coal market.
 There is no possible chance of pro duction during the next year coming anywhere near to meeting the de- mand,' Mir. Lewis added. "Even with sufficient cars to transport coal and make deliveries we will be unable to meet the situation, as we will be con fronted by the labor shortage prob lem."
 The coal fields at the present time are affected by this labor shortage. he said, and it is gradually growing worse
 Wage clauses in the new agreement covering the various districts of the 1 central competitive fields. follow: | The piek-mining rate in the thin vein district of western Pefrnsyivania
 shall be $1.11.64 per ton and in the l eastern Ohio, Hooking, Cambridge and Amsterdam Bergholz districts of Ohio the mining rate shall be $1.11:64, and throughout the balance of Ohio the | pick mining rate shall be advanced "A cents per ton, upon the pick mining rate in effect October .31, 1913; in. the
 bituminous district of Indiana $1.0S per ton and in the Danville district of Illinois $f.0S per ton.
 Machine ni.iiag in the thin vein district of western PennsyIvaflia 94
 cents per ton in, Ohio 94 cents Der t11 Iii ,4 <.F Tx, diana, chain machine mining 96 cents per ton and punching machines 9S
 cents per ton: in the Dahyille district
 of Illinois 9S cents per ton. II That all day labor and monthly men (the advance to monthly men to
 be based on an average of the iisua
 number of days he is required tc
 work in a nlonth), except trappers
 and other boys, be advanced $1 pei
 day. Trappers and boys receiving les.
 than mems wages to be advanced 5; I cents per day. Dead work, yardage and room
 turning is advanced 20 per cent. or the prices being paid October 31 1919."
 Although the new agreement doe, Lnot provide extra pay for the pushing of cars loaded or efnpty. in and ou of the mines, a clause was added a the suggestion of the mine workers that the miners could work out mu
 tually satisfactory agreements" re. garding this matter.
 The agreement ends with a resolu- , tion that aan interstate joint confer ence be held prior to April 1, 1922 ; the time and place of holding such s
 meeting is referred to committee oi , two operators and two miners from
 each state herein represented; to-
 gether with the international officer. , of the United Mine Workers organi.
 zation.''
 | Although the mine workers off, ; cials failed to receive the principa
 demand with which they entered tht ; conference here-the raise in the pay
 of day men, from the s1 per day
 award by the commission to $1.35- they expressed general satisfaction , tonight that the agreement. had beer
 signed
 T On the question of the wage in.
 crease for day laborers, John L. Lew : is in his address to the conference
 declared that he believed the coa
 commission had made "a serious l blunder" in failing to award a highe : rate to this class of workers. He con tended that the increase of 27 pc
 cent. to tonnage workers is 'altogeth 7 CT .sproportionate to the increas f awarded the day workers' Unless the day men get an addi