New-York tribune., 1920-03-10
Coal Price Up
April l if Men
Get Pay Raise
Increase for the Anthracite
Miners Will Be Passed
On at Once to Consumer,
Declares Big Operator
Wage Discussion Begins
Diggers Unlikely to Quit
Work While Negotiations
Are in Committee Hands

Work While Negotiations
Are i'm Committee Hands
The general committees of the an
thracite coal operators and the United
Anthracite Mine Workers met yester-
day in the Pennsylvania Hotel to dis
cuss the new wage scale to go into
effect when the present four-year
agreement expires, on March 81.
A sub-scale committee was chosen,
composed Of four representatives from
each side. Alvin Markle, an indepen-
dent operator, of Hazleton, Pa, is to be
chairman, with no vote. This COM
mittee will meet at II o'clock to-mor-
row morning in the Union League Club
and seek to reach tentative agree
ment. which will be presented to the
general commission for approval.
Men Who Will Draft Basis
The operators selected w. L. Con-
of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal
and Iron Company; S. D. Warmer, of
Philadelphia, president of the Lehigh
Coal Company, and. Charles F. Huber
of Wilkes-Barre, Of the Lehigh-
Wilkes-Barre Coal Company, as their
representatives. Thomas Kennedy,
president of Hazleton District No. Z;
c. j. Golden, president of Shamokin
District No. 8; John T. Dempsey, presi-
dent of Scranton District No. /, and
John L. Lewis, international president
were named by the mine workers.
Briefly, the miners demands are for
60 per cent increase in wages for
contract miners, an advance of 50 a
day for men paid by the day, six
hour day and fve-day week. They
ask for a two-year agreement, a closed
shop, uniform wage scale for like
and that employers compensate them
for the loss of tools by accident.
j. j. Jermyn, of Scranton, one of the
largest independent operators in the
Lackawanna region, said just before
thc doors closed on the delegates that
II the miners demands were granted
it would mean an increase of 115 to
120 per cent over present wages and
that most of the. coal dealers would be
forced out of business.
Burden Will Fall on Consumer
He said that any substantial increase
to the miners would Immediately be
reflected in an advance in the price of
coal to the consumer. "Heretofore, ~
said Mr.. Jermyn, operators have re-
duced the price OF coal on April l of
each year to attract early buyers.
do not believe that any such cut will
be made this year, although no definite
action has been taken"
Sixty men attended the conference
All appeared to be on the most friend
y terms. Mr.. Lewis presented the de-
nands of the workers. Mr.. Kennedy
and Mr.. Golden explained their sig
niiicance. The operators made nc
comment.
Mr.. Lewis said the men were ready
% enter into the negotiation of a. ''con-
tract" in the spirit of utmost fairness
and sincerity, realizing that the miners
operators and the general public are
the parties interested in the entire
matter" He said the new contract
should be approached in the light of
cIisting circumstances and conditions
with the purpose on both sides to reach
~, agreement that would do justice to
all"
Representatives of the miners as
serted that the shorter workday would
not curtail production, as the men
would retain their efficiency longer
tran under the present plan.
Men Want All Mines Unionized
said the union was more than a labor
organization; it was an institution
They held that the operators should
aid in bringing about a 100 per cent
organization because the union has
done SO much and is capable of doing 50
much more toward the. stabilization OF
the industry"
When it came to deciding the num-
ber of men to compose the sub-scale
committee, the operators suggested
four from each side. The miners OBJ
lccted on the ground that this would
include only one man from each dis
trict, and if he were to fall i'll it
would necessitate the appointment of a
man who would be ignorant of what
bad transpired. They favored three
from each district.
Each party withdrew for a confer
ence. and it was decided to have four
members from each side on the sub
comm i tee besides the non-voting chair
man.
1t the subcommittee arrives at a
tentative agreement before March 81 q
call will be issued for joint meeting
OF the general committees. If no set
tlement can be reached, the miners
nave stated that their intention is to
suspend operations. However if the
negotiations show signs of progress it
is believed the men will remain at
work.
This is the first dispute in the anthra
cit" held since 1912. About 175, 900
miners are affected and 40 per cent of
mat number are contract workers in
icrested IN the 60 per cent wage in
crease. Thirty per cent of the coal