The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-08-30
PLAN TO KEEP
PUMPS GOING
AFTER STRIKE
Operators and Miners Settle
This on Basis of Eight-HOuf
Day in Conference
PEACE Is CONSIDERED
Operators and Miners Separ-
ately Will Take up Pin
chOt's Peace Proposals

Harrisburg, Pa, Aug. 3O,-Pro-
positions for settlement of the
anthracite controversy which
Gov. Pinchot laid down before
miners and operators yesterday
went before each group separate
ly today.
S. ID. Warriner, chairman of
the operators policy committee
called his associates to meet in
Philadelphia but John l.. Lewis
and his committee of u. S. Mine
workers stayed here.
Differences cropped out. The
offer of 10 per cent flat in
crease for the anthracite workers.
of the universal s-hour day, of
the right to have union agent
in the company's office for COLI
lection of union dues, which the
governor made along with ten
der of union recognition, and
the principal of collective bar
gaining won more than q friend
ly reception from the union con-
tngent. There was growing inn
preston that Mr.. Lewis would
recommend and his committee
would grant an acceptance Of the
proposal and call in an order for
the suspension of work Sept.
if the operators consented.
But with the operators the set
tlement basis suggested encoun-
tered. almost open hostilities.
Harrisburg, Aug. 30.-An agree
ment was reached today between the
policy committee Of anthracite oper-
ators and officials of the miners
union under which union. men en-
ployed as pump men, engineers and
maintenance men will be allowed to
stay at work after September l even
if suspension of mining now ordered
becomes effective. The. men in the
classifications named are needed to
prevent the mines from. flooding and
caving in during periods Of idleness.
BY the terms of the agreement mcn
in the maintenance service now
working 12 hours day will receive
a wage adjustment of % cents a day
less for working eight hours than
they receive for working IL hours
and will be paid overtime rates if
they exceed eight hours in. service.
Men on nine and ten hour shifts
will work the same hours that they
now put in but will receive wage
increase which is estimated to be
$1.l5 per day for those now receiv-
ing the lowest rates, with greater
amounts proportionately for those
who are employed at higher wage
rates.
In addition any general increase in
wages granted will be made retro
active to September for the benefit
of all maintenance workers who are
held in service.
John L. Lewis, president Of the
United Mine Workers. said that the
principle followed in working out
the price adjustment necessary to
establishing the eight-hour day fo-
the maintenance workers was the
same as has been established in past
settlements in the mining region
where the eight-hour day has been
granted.
To Consider Proposals
The signing of the agreement was
the last-minute action of the oper-
ators' policy committees representa-
tives before departing for Philadel-
phia to meet with their associates to
consider Governor Pinchot's propos-
ais for settlement Of the main dis
pute.
Failure to keep the pumps going
for a single day after suspension Of
work would seriously damage the an
thracite mines, it was said.