The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-09
ADVANCE
TOHARD COAL MEN
DENIED OWNERS
Will Adjust All Individual
Cases Of Injustice, They
Tell Committee.
NO GENERAL REVISION
Falling Cost of Living and
Surplus Labor Are Cited
in Their Decision.
MINERS ARE INsIsTENT
Want 10 P. G.. Increase Over
U. s. Award, Sc Minimum
for 8 Hour Day.
MINERS ARE INsIsTENT

for 8 Hour Day.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. S.--While willing
to adjust any individual cases of in
justice or inequality within the pres
ent agreement, representatives of the
anthracite mine operators to-day noti-
| fed the mine workers that they were
! against granting any general addi-
tional wage increase OF take any action
that would tend to reopen the award
of the United States Anthracite Com
mission.
The attitude of the mine owners
toward demands Of the miners for
general additional wage increases, a
! Sc minimum day labor rate, and an
universal eight hour day for the hard
coal workers was made known to the
miners here late to-day at an execu-
| tive session of the joint sub-scale COM
| mittee of the anthracite miners and
operators, which had been holding al
most continuous conferences during
the last three days.
Pending meeting OF the operators
to make more formal answer as to
their position on general wage increases
the miners representatives will make
report on to-day's reply at special
meeting of the mine workers general
scale committee called for next Satur-
day at Hazleton. Pa.
Demand for Labor Drops.
The mine workers took a firm stand.
1t was stated, against any blanket in
crease, because OF the present downward
trend. OF prices and lowering costs of
living.
Besides adjusting alleged inequalities
that may be mutually agreed upon the
operators also offered to consider put
ting some of the long hour men on an
eight hour schedule.
In protesting against considering a
general wage increase the mine owners
pointed out TO the miners representa-
tves that there was surplus OF labor
and that they could get sufficient help
at the present time at the current wage
thracite miner had a greater opportunity
to work and more steady employment
than In the bituminous region and in
many other lines or industry
Representatives of the miners sup
ported their demands for wage increases
equal to the 81 per cent. recently granted
the bituminous workers with statistics
and economic verbal argument. They
asserted that IS minimum day rate
was necessary ito support an American
family In comfort and decency."
They pointed out that the work of the
anthracite miner was more skilful. diff
flcult and hazardous than the bitumi-
nous worker. yet he does not receive as
high a wage. They also contended that
the miners wages had not kept pace
with the cost OF living. One OF the chief
objections of the miners to the present
agreement was that 1t had wiped out or
modified a number of wage differen-
tials on various classes of labor. doing
alleged injustices. especially to men who
were skilfui In their work and had haz-
ardous occupations.
Want Same Pay ms Soft Coal Men.
The miners asked wage increases of
10 per cent. In addition to those granted
by the coal commission, in order that
the total increase may reach 81 per
cent, which was the average increase
received by the tonnage workers in the
bltuminous region. and an additional !
per cent. In rates to be paid considera-
ton miners. In order that this class Of
workers may get the soft coal workers
rate.
General increases for monthly men
and all other workers on the same basis
was also asked.
After giving their attitude to thu
miners to-day. the subcommittee of
operators announced that they would
have to report back to their general
scale committee the results OF the con-
ferences OF the last few days before
they could make a more definite an
sw er to the eight demands OF the work.
ers.
The mine owners are understood. how
ever. to have made clear that they were
not inclined to consider granting any
general wage Increase. although they
will discuss the matter again at their
coming meeting, which VIII probably be
held early next week.
AS soon as the operators have held
their meeting the joint scale committee
of representatives of both sides will re-
convene In Philadelphia and clear up the
situation. While the miners representa-
tives declined to issue any statement to-
night. they declared that despite the
attitude of the operators. they would
stand by their original demands and In
sst on a general additional wage In
crease and universal eight hour day.
I'VE have not receded from our POSI-
ton. said Thomas Kennedy Of Hazleton.
chairman OF the miners delegation. I'VE |
intend to stick to II. We will make our |
report TO the scale committee and II is
up to them to decide upon policy. Moth
ing Is very definite"
Neither the operators nor the miners
representatives were willing TO. discuss
the probable outcome OF the present con-
troversy No threat OF strike or ulti-
matum has been given the operators. al |
though II was learned that the miners |
to-day insisted that the operators make
known their attitude without further
de.av
The wage controversy between the /
miners and operators has been
In progress since last March, resulting
early in the fall In vacation" strike
which seriously curtailed production In
the hard coal region.
i