Seward daily gateway., 1933-01-05
PAYROLL QUESTION AT PREMIER COAl
 MINE, ADJUSTED
SPLIT-CHECK SYSTEM WILL
 PERMIT CONTINUATION OF OPERATION

Facing the alternative of suS- pending operations of the Premier coal mine. on Moose creek, Mata- nuska coal fields, because of finan- cial difficulties, the management has adopted the split-check sys- tenn, according to reports brought to Seward from Anchorage.
 Under the new arrangements, which enables the mine to contin- ue on it's contracts with the Alas ka Railroad, it is said that the question of the wage payroll has been adjusted by the miners op erating on a stated wage basis and a division of all profits on a 5O-50 basis.
 Under a recent ruling by Wash ington to the effect that the man agement of the railroad is per mitted to apportion the coal ton mage required by the railroad be- tween the operating mines, instead of by competitive bids for the full supply, the Premier is said to have received a contract for 900 tons per month or about 30 tons per day.
 It is reported that the question Of wages threatened to cause em- barrassment when the California packers of the organization which absorbed the Bartley Howard in terests in the Premier. declined to advance further moneys for it's operation and ordered the superin- tendent to shut down and aban- don the mine.
 This decision, it is said, was ar rived at after tragedy attendant upon the depression in the States, had taken it's toll of of the mem bers of the organization of capi- talists.
 It is said that the Premier had succeeded in creating markets ad- dltlonal to the railroad coal con- tract, including supplying a good ly tonnage to Cordova and other coastal points.
 The agreement of the miners and other employees to adopt the split-check system guarantees the continued operation of the mine, and offers opportunity for all en- ployees to secure more than wages, contingent upon production and markets.
 The Premier, from it's inception, has had a checkered and stormy history.
 The lease, secured from the Fed eral government, was first ob- tained by Bruno Augustine, who into working agreement with four others-coal immersion it's operation. These became. in volved in disputes which led to successive receiverships.
 Here entered intervenors seek ing to recover debts alleged to be owing.
 Augostino, facing the alternative of being compelled to surrender ]! his lease because of non-perform- ance of covenants with the gov ernment, then sold his rights to 8artley Howard and associates.
 Then Augustine reconsidered his action and declined to accep! he payment deposited by ne Howard interests to bind the sale of the lease.
 The court finally awarded the to Howard.
 Howard underbid the Evan Jones company on a large contract to i supply the railroad with coal, and l he latter mine suspended opera ions, devoting the interim to de- work.
 Acting for intervenors, attorneys attacked the Howard contract on he grounds of non-performance, aking the matter to the Secre- ary of the Interior.
 A decision rendered by the Sec etary stated in effect that the itigants had right to proceed against the lease no matter in whose hands it reposed."
 Thus what had been a question 'f litigation between two parties became tri-party in effect, with he owners of the coal land-the Federal pOVarnnoapt -bo1dipO Inc l