San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-30
Operators and Union Lead
ers Compromise on
Safety Point.
WAGES ARE ADJUSTED
Failure to Keep Pumps Co.
ing One Day Would
Cause Ruin.
By the Associated Press.


agreement was reached today be-
tween the policy committee OF an
thracite operators and the officials
of the miners union under which men
employed as pumpmen, engineers ana
maintenance men will be allowed 10
stay at work after September /. 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,
men in the maintenance service now
working twelve hours per day will re-
ceive q wage adjustment of % cents
Der day less for working eight hours
than they now receive for working
twelve hours and will be paid over
time 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 they will receive a
wage increase which is estimated to
be $1.15 per day for those now re-
ceiving the lowest rates, with greater
amounts proportionately for those
who are employed at higher wage
rates.
Is Usual Policy.
In addition, any general increase in
wages. granted, will be made retro
active to September i for the bene-
fit of all maintennce workers who are
held in service.
John l. Lewis, president of the
United Mine Workers, said that the
principles followed in working out the
price adjustments necessary in estab-
fishing the eight-hour day for the
maintenance workers, were the same
as have been established in past set
Elements in the mining region where
the eight-hour day has been granted
to workers formerly employed for
longer periods.
The signing of the agreement was
a last minute action of the operators
policy committee representatives be-
fore departing for Philadelphia TO
meet with their associates to con-
slider Governor Pinchots proposals
for settling the main controversy in
the anthracite region.
Failure to keep the mine pumps go
ing for even a single day after the
suspension, it is said, would serious
ly damage anthracite mines and equip
ment.
Take Up Plan.
Propositions for settlement Of the
controversy which Governor Pincho.
laid down before operators and min
ers Yesterday went before each
group in separate meetings for inten-
sive study today.
s. ID. Warriner, chairman of the
operators policy committee, called
his associates to meet in Philadelphia
but John L. Lewis and bis scale
committee of the United Mine Work
ers stayed here.
Sharp divergence in opinion on
the governors proposal early cropped
, out between the contending repre-
sentatives. The offer of 10 per
cent flat increase for the anthracite
workers, of the universal eight-hour
day, of the right to have a union
AGENT in the company offices for col
lection of union dues, which the gov
ernor made al lg with a tender of
union recognition and of the principle
of collective bargaining, won a more
than friendly reception from the
union contingent.
Lewis Likes Pinchot Plan.
There was a growing impression
that Mr.. Lewis would recommend
and his scale committee would grant
a substantial acceptance of the pro-
posal, and call in the orders for a
suspension of work September 1 if
the operators consent.
But with the operators the settle
ment basis suggested encountered al
most open hostility. The inconsist-
ent stand for arbitration of all out
standing issues was almost complete
" neglected, and there was a dis
position to consider tl.at the proposals
had not adequately measured the coal
price increase which would result
from the wage increase award. Gov
ernor Pinchot estimated this would
amount to 60 cents a ton, of which
the operators could absorb 10 cents
in lessened Profits.
To File Answers.
Mine owners themselves calculated
that establishing universal eight
hour day would add almost cents
to costs. Further. they contended
that all of the increase would have
to be loaded on the domestic fuel,
the steam size production of an
thracite being incapable of bearing
it in market competition with blum
nous.
Both sides had until Friday noon
to file their answers.
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