New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-01-21
Tri-Statc Anthracite En-.
ployees Accept Boards
Pay Proposal; Consider
Strike as Alternative
Two Years Limit
Put on Contracts
Committee Favors Ignor-
ing International Union
in Preliminary Plans

SHAMOKIN, Pa, Jan. 20.-The tri
state convention Of the Anthracite
Mine Workers to-day adopted the
recommendation Of the scale committee
demanding 20 per cent increase in
wages for contract miners and a 81 a
day increase for all day men.
The convention had before it tonight
a recommendation providing for the
suspension of mining or April 1, in the
event that no satisfactory agreement
has been reached by that date. Leaders
said there was every prospect of its
adoption.
The delegates also adopted a demand
that the proposed new agreement to
take the place of the present one, which
expires March 81, shall not cover more
than two years and that individual
agreements and contracts in tho mining
of coal shall be prob ibitcd.
Nineteen Demands Proposed
The scale committee presented to the
convention nineteen proposed demands
on the operators and three recon-
mendatlons to be carried out by the
scale committee. Other demands pro
ode for uniform wage scale so that
arlous occupations of like character
snail command the same wages, that
me elght-hour clause in the present
agreement shall be applied to all per
sons working in and about the mines
coming under the jurisdiction of the
mine workers union; time and half
time for all overtime work and double
time tor Sunday and holiday work :;
a standard check-off system; dead
work to be paid for on uniform CON
saderation basis; that where coal is
paid for by the car it shall be changed
and payment made on the legal ton
basis and dockage eliminated; that
carpenters and other tradesmen be
paid the recognized standard rates ex-
isting in the regions, which should
not be less than 80 cents an hour: that
IN rehir'hg men laid off the seniority
rule shall apply; that employees of
the agreement; that powder be de
delivered to the miners at their work
ing places, and that where men have
been working only six or seven hour
days in col]ieries where eight hours pre-
vail they shall have their wages read
justed, based on normal conditions.
All the demands were approved by
the convention.
The convention adopted motion that
the demands be considered seriatim
The demand for a two-year contract
provoked no discussion, but that pro-
viding for increased wages of 20 per
cent took up much time Of the con-
vention. One delegate wanted to make
the increase l per cent and pledge
the union not to deviatc from it. 1t
was not favored.
Is Per Cent Raise Demand Rejected
The 20 per cent demand did not come
as surprise to the delegates, as it had
been said by leaders that the anthra-
cite miners favored such an advance
An effort was made in committee. it
was said, to limit the increase to Is
per cent, but it. did not meet with
favor by the majority of the twenty
one members of the scale committee
The recommendation that the scale
committee be instructed to perfect ar
rangements for a suspension of min
ing on April l in the event an agree
mcnt is not reached by that time came
as surprise to. some Of the delegates
1T was expected by some that this
would be left to the international poll
cies committee, which would not want
Its hands tied in negotiating with the
operators. 1t was the custol. in pre-
.vious negotiations to keep the men at
work while negotiations were progress;
ing favorably and make the agreement
(Contlnutd on page throc).