Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-18
COAL FARLEY
FACTIONS PREPARE
Miners Head Fires First Gun
at Pittsburgh Company.
Meet February ID.
BY j. c. ROYLE.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


NEW YORK, January 1S.-BotE
sides of the bituminous coal contro
Fersy believe in preparedness. Miners
and operators alike are assembling
their forces for whatever eventually
may result from the conference in
Florida on the question of wage scales
When their representatives meet early
this Spring.
+. L. Pagan, president Of District
No. of the United Mine Workers
which includes the central Pennsyl
Vania field, in discussing the impend
ing conference, fired the first gun at
the Pittsburgh Coal Co. for it's non
union activities. He called for an in.
Vesugation of changed conditions at
the mining camps of the Pittsburgh
Coal Co." asking a complete impartial
investigation of the record of the com
pany in western Pennsylvania since
August 10, 1925.
Prior to August 10, 1925 Pagan
SAID, the Pittsburgh Coal Co. had
equipment and man power which en-
apIed 1t to produce a tonnage of APP
proximately $4,000, 900 annually. This
annual production has fallen to $780,
600 tons, has thrown thousands of
men out of work and resulted in conse-
quent suffering TO the community as
a whole.
Production Costs Higher,
1t is conservatively estimated that
the production costs of the company
are so per cent higher than those of
independent mine corporations doing
business with the union and respect
ing the terms of the Jacksonville
agreement. The responsibility for the
present chaotic condition of the
bituminous industry in western Penn
syIvania is due entirely to the prac-
ices of this coal corporation.
The determination of the wage
policies of the United Mine Workers
OF America is a function that belongs
solely to the international convention,
which begins its sessions January %
In Indianapolis. 1t will therefore re-
fraln from making any prognostica-
ton of our organizations policies in
advance. AS to a suspension April l.
this viii depend largely upon the out
come OF our wage scale negotiations,
which are scheduled to begin February
IA at Miami The officers of the mine
workers are anxious to effect an
agreement with the operators. 1t is
doubtful if the Pittsburgh Coal Co.
VIII participate, inasmuch asa they
nave abrogated their wage agreement
with the United Mine Workers and
are attempting to operate on a non
union basis"
Scale Slightly Higher.
The Pittsburgh Coal Co. operates in
Pennsylvania, Ohio and Kentucky.
All its non-union mines were closed
in mid-June, 1925, in which year the
company showed a deficit of 81. 266 $40.
Officials of the company declared it
was impossible to operate under the
scale or the Jacksonville agreement.
The company later reopened mines on
a non-union basis to miners agreeing
to accept the 1917 scale.
When the foreign demand for hi
luminous coal became acute in the
latter part of 1926, due to the British
Strike, the company put into effect a.
scale or wages slightly higher than
the Jacksonville scale, but did not re-
sumo relations with the union. The
on1caalS said the advance represented.
a sharing with employees Of the higher.
prices obtaining for coal They warn.
Cd that 1t might prove temporary.
This action was cited by union Off
Gals as proof that the operators could
run their properties under the Jack
eonville agreement.
Pending results of negotiations.
operators are accommodating stocks,
Coal operators Of the Ohio fields will
inset tomorrow at Toledo to discuss
the4r probable action at the Miami
H10aang. Committees representing
Ohio western Pennsylvania, Indiana.
ana Illinois delds win be present.