The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-09-04
III. nepublic Euresn.

Iuh St ard Peansyivania ave.
Washington. Sept. 3.-The report OF Labor
Commissioner Wright TO President Roose-
welt on the Pennsylvania coal strike has
been submitted.
Mr. Wright states that he did not per
sonally visit the coal regions. but had a
trusted assistant go there for data The
Commissioner spent much time in New
York. and conferred freely with the mine
owners. managers OF railroads and leading
capitalists.
missioner says:
'Considering all the testimony that has
been offered and weighing IL as carefully
and as impartially as 1 can. and listening
10 the statements Of operators. miners, cap
itallsts. bankers. students and others, to
all OF whom 1 am grateful for their gener-
Gus assistance. i cannot help feeling that
there are certain suggestions that are rea-
sonable and just in the premises:
Il That the anthracite employees should
organize an anthracite coal miners union.
IN ITS autonomy TO be independent OF the
United Mine Workers OF America. The new
union might. OF course. be affillated with
the United Mine Workers and the Ameri-
can Federation OF Labor. but in the con-
DUCT Of all the affairs relating TO the an
thracite coal regions the new union should
preserve Its own autonomy and be finan-
ciaiiy responsible for its agreements.
SHOULD CoNCEDE NINE-HoUR DAY.
That. considering all the facts rela-
tive TO production. cost of coal nj ,h,
mines. proflts. freight traffic, etc IL would
De reasonable and just for the operators
70 cohcede at once nine-hour aay but
that this should be done for the period OF
SIX months as an experiment IN order To-
Test ihe innuence on production. with the
guaranty that IL production Is NOT materially
reduced thereby the agreement shall he
made Tor n more permanent reduction of
time.
,. That under the new organization rom
sisting OF anthracite employees, there shall
DE organized joint Committee on Cen
Siauon. . composed OF representatives OF the
operators and OF the new union, 10 which
au grievances as they arise shall be re-
,errea ,s I9r inves;isntion. and that. when
cision. that decision shall be fnaI and hind
lnS upon both parties
Thnt the first duty OF such Joint
boaru OF Cancellation shall be 10 enter up-
on thorough examination and inyestiea-
tion OF all conditions relative 10 mining
shthracite coal, TO question Of weighing, TO
dsclp.ne, TO wage scales and to ali mat
ters that now form the burden OF the corn
plants and grievances OF both opera Tors
anu anu miners: such Investigation or examina-
toh tc De made through the employment OF
experts to be selected by the joint commit
tee. the results OF such Investigation NOT 10
ne considered In the nature of an award Of
q Board OF Arbitration. but rs verified IT,
formation ON which future contracts can
be made.
COAL TO BE PAID FOR BY THE, TON
.. mat. whenever Practicable and where
mining MINI Is paid Tor by the ton AMI until the
joint committee referred 10 shall have
made It's report. coal shall he paid for by
the ton and be weighed by two fnspet.forS
one representing the operators and one rep
resentlng the men. eSch side 10 pay its own
Inspector.
IS. That there shall be no fnterferenc.
with nonunion men.
=. That. whenever practicable collective
bargains shall be made relative 10 wages
time and other conditions under rules 10 be
established by the joint committee re-
ferred to.
The proposition has been made that with
the experience OF the past, the operators in
agreement with the miners must establish
= uniform or hxed percentage OF deduction |
average. the impurities. t;ie result Of which |
would be that every miner would know
that n certain hsed percentage Is TO be de- |
duced from the coal mined without refer
ence TO its purity; that such rule. while |
it would be unfair and absurd IN some
eases. would be generous In others and |
fhus an understanding reached which would |
avoid all the irritstiors which now accom-
pany the subject OF weighing ard the de- |
iuction for impurities. The question Is full 4!
of difficulties. and IL may not be possible |
10 crystalline the proposition into a fixed |
rule. but IL may be worth consideration BY
4 joint committee such as has been sug-
rested.
WOULD MAKE PEACE.
THE conclusions ststed above. Mr.. Presi- |
evidence that has been furnished me. 10 be |
and Just, and should they be i
adopted. with some notifications. perhaps |
here and there. they would lead TO a more |
peaceful and satisfactory condition in the /
They may rot lead even II adopted fully. /
o perfect peace, nor TO the millennium. bot 1
believe they viii help 70 ailay irritation