Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-03-28
OPERATORS AND
MINERS DISCUSS
NEW PAY SCALE
Abandon General Discus
sionS of the Hard Coal
Industry and Get Down
to Demands of Workers.


New York, March 27--The an
thraci(o miners and operators sub
committee on contract negotiations
today abandoned their general dis
cussions of the industry and got
down TO the nineteen demands of
the workers.
Negotiations of the day were re-
stricted to the second part Of de-
mand No. ]. relating 10 establish
ment OF a scale for operators OF
mechanical leaders and demand
No. 3. which says:
an conformity with the thought
expressed in the award of the Uni
fed States anthracite coal commits
sion. we demand that a uniform
wage schedule be established so
that the various occupations or IKE
character at the several colleries
shall command the same wages.
Discussion Restricted.
The miners restricted the dis
cussion TO presentation of a vast
array of statistics as evidence to
support their demands. James
German, secretary OF the board,
and a non-votiug member OF the
secret conferences, announced at
the close Of the session that the
miners will continue presentation
Of their case tomorrow"
The chief demands of the miners
ard the crux of the anthracite sit
uation--the demand for a 20 per
cent increase in wages throughout
the industry. and a raise of 81 per
shift for day laborers-wili be
preached before the committee late
tomorrow or Wednesday. union
members of the committee an
nounced.
Operators refused to comment on
the present status of the negotia-
tions except to agree with the
miners that negotiation of new
contract in time to halt suspension
of the anthracite miners Aprll
is not in sight ,....--..
"The data for a complete pre-
sentation of our case is in our
hands," said Thomas j. Kennedy,
labor member of the committee.
1--WE are now ready to put It up 70
the mine operators" Ten thou
sand members of the International
Seamen's union IN the port of New
York are awaiting the return of
their president, Andrew Furuseth'
from Washington tomorrow to de-
eide whether they will interfere
with the proposed importation OF
British mined soft coal to help
break the strike of the bitiminous
miners also set FOR April l
Seamen to Aid Miners.
Coincident with the seamen'sI
preparation for action. John Fl.
RYAN. vice president of the Inter
national I5ongshoremen's assocla-
ton, asserted today that its 1o,UOO
members intended to render ev-
cry possible assistance to the Uni
ted Mine Workers"
Although the next district con-
ference of the Longshoremen's or
% 1izatjou is not scheduled until
April 9, Mr.. Ryan declared a spe-
cial conference would be held II
deyelopments warranted, to formu-
late program of aid for the 4Vo'-
eco bituminous men ordered by
their union leaders TO halt WORK
Friday midnight.
According to officials of the sea-
mems union, Mr.. Furuseth con-
ferred at Washington today with
government officials and chiefs OF
the American Federation OF labor
relative to reports that the govern
ment considered importation of
British coal In the event pro-
tracted strike threatened the ma
tions fuel supply. In these re-
ports, which Mr.. Furuseth Is inves-
tlgating, it was said the admins
tration would permit shipping
board vessels to haul coal from
Great Britain as ballast. 1t has
been suggested that preferential
freight rate might be fixed which
would permit importation OF the
foreign mined product at cost
not prohibitive to American indus
trial consumers.
Scamen Could Block scheme.
Refusal of the seamen to sail
vessels hauling such coal, com
bined with O similar action on the
part of longshoremen, would etfec-
lively block such a scheme, local
union officials assert. Although
intended by the government as q
means of protection to the con-
suner, they said it actually would
be weapon in the hands of the
operators, to cripple the bitumi-
nous miners in their announced in
tention of striking until the opera
tors agree to confer with them on
Il new wage schedule.
They pointed out that the supply
on hand April / plus the estimated
nBn-union output of 100000 tons a
week, would result in a shortage
within four months after the strike
il called, figuring the weekly con-
sumption of the nation at 2,225,-
600 The importation of British
coal, they added would obviate the
danger OF shortage for at least
twelve months.
ROCK SLIDE KILLS THREE,