Show J. J J JS S LJ LA KEi 0 ANTHRACITE GOAL OAL CI OALI PARLEY OPENS I TODAY No Agreement Is Expected Before Expiration of Contract Contract Con- Con I. I tract on April 1 NEW YORK March 15 Anthracite miners and operators were prepared today today- to begin negotiations for tor a lI new wag wage agreement to take the place of of the two two- year two ear contract which expires at the end of this month A large largo number number number num num- ber of operators arrived to p participate In inthe the first joint conference this this after atter- noon A majority of ot the representatives tives of the miners comprising the scale committee have been in tho the city several days conferring the last to ar arrive arrIve arrive ar- ar rive being President John L. L Lewis of ot the international organization of the United Mine Workers The nineteen demands of the miners formulated at their convention In Shamokin Sha- Sha Pa In January and ratified by bythe bythe bythe the international convention at Indianapolis Indianapolis Indianapolis Indian Indian- apolis last month are to be formally presented to the coal operators and explained in detail by officers of the union The operators are expected to immediately take them under consideration tion and make a statement of their po position position position po- po on Friday The miners are asking for a 20 per percent percent cent Increase in contract rates among other things while the mine owners are on record as favoring a R. decrease below the present working basis SUSPENSION IN SIGHT It is not expected that an agreement will be reached before the end of the tho month and In that event the scale committee of the hard coal workers is under instructions of the Shamokin convention to order a suspension of ot mining until a satisfactory agreement Is in sight A referendum on the question ques- ques question question ques ques- tion of ot suspension was not taken Inthe in inthe n the anthracite fields the action of the convention conventI n having expressed wishes of oC the themen men The national policy committee commit commIt- II tee of the mine workers has the power i to set aside a suspension If it it sees fit I but according to union leaders here such action is not likely t It is the opinion of miners and many of the operators that ar t suspension I Ithe ID Ip the hard coal fields of Pennsylvania 1 i It certain If it comes it is expected there will be complete cessation of ot production as on two former occasions when wage negotiations dragged over many weeks Because of ot generally fair fall reserve supplies a shortage of anthracite anthracite anthracite cite is not anticipated unless the Imminent imminent imminent im Im- im- im suspension should run into the summer which is not looked for by the miners REDUCTION OPPOSED The miners enter the conference determined they said to resist any effort to reduce wages There must musti i be no backward step President Lewis has said said- and the miners have de declared declared declared de- de I themselves as unanimous in supporting him Beyond the general statement that the workers shall share in the general deflation by accepting a wage cut the mine owners have not indicated what proposition they will make It has been reported that they are not a unit on what percentage of decrease they sh shall ll ask The principal demands of ot the miners follow A year two-year contract A 20 per cent increase in the contract wage scale a 1 a day increase to all labor paid by the day and existing between different classes o of prior to the 1920 award be restored A uniform wage scale In all collieries collieries col col- col for occupation of like character An hour eight-hour day for all those working underground to count their hours from the time they enter the mine until they leave it A standard check off provision That where coal Is paid paM for by the car the system be changed to a tonnage tonnage tonnage ton ton- nage basis |