The Seattle Star Newspaper, November 28, 1919, Page 19

THE SEATTLE STAR—-FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1919. Letter Addressed By Washington Coal Operators Association To Governor Hart BE. 8, BROOKS, Commissioner PHONE MAIN 3898 Washington Coal Operators Association 608610 LYON BUILDING SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. - November 25, 1919. Honorable Louis F. Hart, Governor of the State of Washington, Olympia, Washington. Sir: \ - Confirming statements as to difference in condi- tions here and those of Eastern mines made to you in our conference Monday, I beg to hand you the following: The figures given in this statement are those for all of the commercial mines of the State of Washington, - but do not include the railroad-owned mines which pro- duce almost exclusively for their own railroad purposes. The statistics are accurately compiled and absolutely, dependable. Comparing June, 1914, the last month before the European war, with September, 1919, the last month for which figures are as yet available, the following changes have taken place: A. Wages of mine employes (not including salaries of mine offi- cials) have increased ........... a+ 62% B. Average monthly compensation of mine employes (not including salaries of mine officials) for year ending September 30, 1919, WBS oi niet e melee totafete ters fete iaet+ $133. 69 C. Cost of living of mine euphiias has advanced ,.;.;.:.:.:-:- ee A “A” is from actual seavell records of all mines. “B” is from actual and accurate records. The aver- age monthly compensation shown is that actually paid the employes. At the larger and more important prop- erties the monthly average is higher, than that shown here. “C” is supplied by the United States Bureau of Labor, whose records for the Seattle district show: Increase because of advances in cost of: B00. ¢ <ccacne sincwe os io wia'e ejeieie acyl Housi: Fuel z pond Light Furniture and Furnishings .......... Miscellaneous ... .e9.--ne- seis nie * sh 7Bee Total Seattle district a 4 There have been no advarices in housing, fuel or light cost at the mining camps since many years prior to 1914. Therefore deduct: Housing . ...-.-.:-;-1- RO hy ; Fuel and Light . . 2.80% 10.72% Increased cost of living at Washing- ton Mining Camps ..,.;.....; 63.29% For the sake of comparison the increase in cost of living in the large Eastern coal fields is also given, being the average of three typical mining towns— Brazil, Ind.; Danville, Il., and Pana, Ill.—these figures also being from the United States Bureau of Labor: Increase because of advances in cost of: Clothing Housing Fuel and LAGit | o:0-0e-0:0:0-0-e tere wtetorecote:oiere Furniture and Furnishings. b edueyloa anol Miscellaneous Increased cost of living at Eastern mining camps t ‘ ®” Comparison of the wages now paid miners in Wash- ington with those paid in the large Eastern fields is as follows: Washington Eastern ines Mines Skilled men above ground. $5.65 $4.75 Laborers above ground , 4.65 4.36 Contract miners average over ...... .00 (No figure) Skilled day "men under Laborers under ground ....., 4.75 The production of al per eles per day in the commercial mines of this state runs from 1.4 to 4.8 tons, sreneny *. .385 tons. The average production per man thruout the other coal fields of the United States is more than twice that of the commercial mines in this state and more than three times that of many of the important mines here. An equal wage advance would, therefore, increase costs here by from two to three times that in other fields. Also, as Washington miners now receive higher average wages than Eastern miners, an equal wage increase made on a percentage basis would be higher per man than in the Eastern fields. The commercial mines of this state probably have- more difficult marketing conditions than any other coal mining operations in the United States. British Columbia coal, mined under nonunion conditions, is right at their door and comes in free of duty. The wage scale there is lower than that now paid here, and earn- ings of contract miners do not average as high as in this state. The British Columbia mines have recently entered into a three-year agreement with their miners on their present wage scale as a maximum and with a provision that the wages will decrease proportionately with the cost of living. California fuel oil is a strong competitor of Washington coals. There is now no price advantage in favor of coal. cnene fie Because of these competitive conditions eeciiaii costs cannot be absor| in selling price advances, neither can they be absorbed in the profits made by the operators. The net profits made by the largest com- mercial mining company in the State during the year ending September 30, 1919, if all given to its mine em- ployes, would for that period allow them but approxi- mately 8 cents more per man per day. To grant to Washington miners any of the increases to be made to Eastern miners would result in an oper- ating loss. _The commercial operators of this state have recently offered the miners thru Secretary Wilson the following proposition: That negotiations between operators and repre- sentatives of the miners immediately begin in Seattle, and that with respect to wage advances or change in hours or working conditions consideration be given to local conditions. Both sides to agree in advance to sub- mit to arbitration by a properly chosen tribunal if no mutually satisfactory understanding is reached. That offer has not been accepted by the National or District officers of the miners. The commercial operators renew the proposition. : Most respectfully yours, WASHINGTON COAL OPERATORS ASSOCIATION. (Original Signed) By N. D. Moore, Acting Commissioner. Even if 14 per cent is added to wages paid Eastern miners, as recommended by President Wilson’s Cabinet, the wages paid Washington miners would still be higher than Eastern scale in some classes of labor and higher in all, taking into account the lower living cost in Washington.