Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-31

men be given the amount of increase
in cents per day that the average
contract miner would be enabled to
| earn by 10 per cent. increase in tho
rates. Contract miners at present earn
from 81 per day upward. The Union
proposal would consequently be for IN
advance of 10 cents or more per day
for all day men. The governors fiat
10 per cent. proposal would give the
day man now earning S4.20 per day
but AZ cents additional.
Further. the union answer renews
the original demand for the check
off" system of dues collection, by
which the employers are required to
| hold out of each employees pay check
an amount sufficient to cover union
| dues. and turn this over to the unions.
1t will be said in the miners Response
| that such a system. now enforced in
unionized bituminous mining terrific
| ries, constitutes real recognition Of
| the union" which the governors propo-
sition offered. insures collection bar
gaining and that nothing else will ad-
cquately cover the ground.
There will be minor questions raised
in the union response, as to the meth
| DDS suggested by the governor for ap-
plying the principles of his PROPOSE
| ton through the joint scale commit
| tees of the union and operators with
! the anthracite Cancellation board as an
| arbiter But on the whole response, 3
| laid down. the union will declare itself
| willing to negotiate if Governor Pin
| chot's final conference finds the oper-
ators in any compromising frame OF
alind.
Fully conversant with the difficult
prospects, Governor Pinchot planned
today to take the representatives of
! both sides with him into executive
| session. rather than into the open
meetings at which he had hitherto
| framed his direct proposals in the in
tervention. He refused all comment
today upon the situation, but 1t was
| understood that he had a feeling that
any position taken by either side, e
not put into public view, could be
modified. There was also a sugges-
ton that as a final resort in the Sit
uation he might ask for a 30-day truce
and the calling off of the unions sus-
pension while negotiations continued.
Philadelphia, Aug. 30.-The general
,, policies committee of the anthracite
operators held a long session here
today considering the proposal of
Governor Pinchot for bringing a set
Element in the wage controversy with
decision which will be presented to
the Governor at Harrisburg tomor-
row.
In keeping with the suggestion of
the Governor that he be first inform
ed of the resolutions to be made by
both miners and operators, the coal
company representatives withheld all
information on the subject.
1.-The General policies committee of
the operators has arrived at. deci-
sion which will be presented to the
Governor at noon tomorrow" is all
that Samuel d. Warmer, chief
spokesman of the committee would
say.
Asked whether he was hopeful that
the decision arrived at would pre-
vent the suspension tomorrow night.
Mr.. Warmer said he would not make
any attempt at predictions.
Virtually the entire anthracite in
dustry was represented at the meet
ing which was held in the office Of
the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Coal
Company of which Mr.. Warmer is
president. AS soon as the meeting
was over the operators quickly sep
arated pointingsto Mr.. Warmer as
the spokesman.