Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-11-06
A QUESTION DECIDED,
Any Award Affecting Miners Pay
to Date from November !.
COMMISSIONERS INSPECTING MINES.
The Arbitrators May Mako . Preliminary
Report ON Increase Of Miners Wsgss,a
shorter Work Day and the Weigh
Ing OF Coal

Scranton, Pa, Nov. 1.-The first i'm
portant action by the anthracite coal
strike commission, which is arbitrat-
ing the differences existing between
the miners and their employers, was
tsMen yesterday when it was an
nounced by Carroll d. Wright, the
recorder Of the commission, that II
any award affecting the existing rate
of wages shonld be made the award
shall be effective from November l.
1t was fully expected that this ques-
ton would come up before the arbi-
traitors, but the action Of the commits
sioners shuts off any possible con-
troversy that either side may have
desired to raise. The miners wanted
the new scale, II one Is made, to date
from the time they returned to work,
but the operators left the matter to
be decided by the commission. The
mine workers are perfectly satisfied,
however, with the decision Of the
commission.
The commissioners spent the entire
day in continuing their inspection OF
the mines and the mining region
about Scranton. They visited the
Manville colliery, operated jointly by
the Delaware & Hudson and the Della
ware, Lackawanna & Western compa-
MES, in the forenoon, and the after
noon was spent in riding through the
region on q special trolley car. The
commission will spend Sunday in the
vicinity Of Wllkesbarre, returning
here In the evening.
It is possible that the commission
may make q preliminary report on
three principal strike questions. They
are the increase in wages, q shorter
work day and the weighing OF coal.
After these have been decided the
commission can take up all other
questions without undue haste. 1t
Is known that the commissioners
have this feature under consideration
and 1t is very likely a preliminary re-
port will be made.
The commissioners were under
ground yesterday for two hours and
o half and inspected practically the
entire underground workings. They
asked numerous questions of all men
they encountered in the gangways or
chambers, and did not seem to mind
the discontinue Of the trip. The
Manville Is said to be one OF the
worst mines in this region for the
miners to work. The veins OF coal
are, not more than three feet thick
and the miner has a more difficult
time in getting the coal out than
where the vein Is thicker. The COM
missioners walked several miles
through the gangways and, owing to
the exceedingly low roof, they had to
DO their tramplng almost continually
in a STOPPING position. After the ar
bitrators had been in the workings
an hour Judge Gray decided that his
back ached enough and he came to
the surface, accompanied by Bishop
spalding. Altogether the commits
sioners inspected three chambers
where miners were at work at the
faces of the breasts blasting coal.
After luncheon at their hotel the
commissioners took a ride around the
region in a special trolley car. They
visited Taylor, Dunmore and Throop,
three small mining towns outside Of
Scranton. This was done for the pur-
pose Of viewing the homes and sur
roundings of the mine workers.
The commission has not yet de-
rided when II shall begin taking
testimony, Chairman Gray said yes
terday It may be nearly n week be-
Tore the hearings r begun. Re-
corder Wright sent out letters to the
81 individual operators in the coal
fields, giving them the same privilege
Of appearing before the commission
ars ms the larger operators.