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additional compensation allowed was to offset any
loss the men so working might sustain through
decreased opportunity to earn. It is also evident
that the inconvenience of two men working together
in an entry is not decreased while cutting
horseback as compared with cutting coal. Consequently
the equitable and just reasoning and consequent
interpretation of the contract would he
that the men are just as much entitled to receive,
and the parties to the making of the contract intended
they should receive, the same additional
compensation when cutting horseback as they receive
when cutting coal. The contract says:
"27 cents per yard additional shall be paid," and
while it is true that it is not the rule and custom
to measure and pay for horsebacks specifically by
the yard, yet where entry is measured to ascertain
the distance driven, the number of feet or yards
of horseback cut through while driving said entry
is never deducted from the length so ascertained.
Consequently, reasoning from that basis also, the
men are entitled to the extra compensation when
working two men together in an entry cutting
horseback.
I fully understand that horseback is paid separately,
but the amount of horseback cut, plus the
coal, determines the total distance the entry is
driven.
In my judgment, unless the parties to the making
of the contract had some other mutual understanding
at the time the contract was executed,
the miner is entitled to be paid the additional
compensation when cutting horseback while working
two together in one entry.
George Richardson, president of District No. 14,
having concurred in and endorsed the above opinions,
both now oecome decisions on the interpretations
of the contract.
ENGINEERS' WAGES.
It has been agreed and decided between the
presidents of Districts Nos. 14, 21 and 25, United
Mine Workers, and Commissioner Bennett Brown
for the Southwestern Interstate Coal Operators'
Association that the interpretation of the contract
for the payment of engineers' wages, is that the
wages paid engineers for the month of September,
1903, for mines in operation one year, based upon
the output of the mine during the month of November,
1902, is the wage to be paid at all mines,
extfpt new mines which have been put in operation
less than one year prior to that date. The
payment of engineers in these mines will be advanced
in accord with the tonnage rate, provided
for i.. the scale, and that all engineers who have
received an increase of wages since September 1,
1903, through a misconception or misunderstanding
of the agreement, will be reduced to the rate
established in September, 1903, based on the out
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN. 29
put for November, 1902, less the 5.55 per cent.
reduction applied in September, 1904, as per agreement.
It is also agreed that the contract for the payment
of engineers, contemplates the classification
of engineers hoisting coal in new mines, as thirdclass
engineers, entitled to receive $61.40 per
month of 26 days of 9 hours per day, until the
pit has reached the capacity of 300 tons or more
per day, when the wages of the engineers will be
increased to the second-class rate of $68.95 per
month of days and hours as above stated.
In his circular addressed to the members of the
Southwestern Interstate Coal Operators' Association
Commissioner Brown says: "The accompanying
interpretation of, and decision upon the
engineers' scale is not in accord with my judgment
or sense of justice, but is the only solution
to the question I could get the other parties to
the contract to agree to.
"You will understand by this decision that the
wage established for engineers in September, 1903,
based upon the average daily capacity or production
of the mine during the month of November,
1902, in operation one (1) year prior to that date,
is the wage to be paid, less the 5.55 per cent, reduction
effective September, 1904, to the end of the
present contract period; no matter what the capacity
or production of the mine may be. That
is to say, the wage paid engineers at these mines
does not rise or fall with the tonnage produced.
but, in all new mines placed in operation less than
one year prior to November, 1902, the engineers'
wage rises with the increased tonnage, according
to the scale."
ALLEGHENY COAL CO. TO
INCREASE ITS INDEBTEDNESS.
Stockholders of the Allegheny Coal Co. have
been called to meet at Springdale January 25,
1905, to vote upon the question of increasing the
indebtedness from $300,000 to $450,000. The date
set for the meeting is the anniversary of the
explosion in the Harwick mine in which about
182 employes of the company lost their lives. The
proposed increase is to pay off debts incurred on
account of the disaster.
A Record River and Harbor Appropriation.
It is the opinion of officials of the war department
that the river and harbor bill, to he passed
by the coming session of Congress, will aggregate
fully $75,000,000 including both the cash appropriations
and those under the continuing contract
system. This will establish a record. In the last
river and harbor bill, passed more than two years
ago, the total carried was about $65,000,000.