New-York tribune., 1902-10-18
THE STRIKE COMMISSION
WILL NOT MEET UNTIL MINERS RE-
TURN TO WORK
MITCHELL's LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT
SHARPLY CRITICISED IN WASHINGTON
IRT TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1BuxE.I

tsT TELEGRAPH TRIBUNE.I
washington, Oct IL. No definite arrange
ments have yet been made for the meeting of
tne coal strike commission, There will be time
enough for that when the miners have returned
to work. In the mean time there has been con-
siderable discussion here as to the exact status
OF the commission and the authority of the
Treasury to pay any expenses that may be in
Cured This question has not vet been officiaIIv
re1erred TO the accounting officers of the Treas
ury Department. but the general opinion is that
the commission has no official status and that
its members must not only serve without nav
but must put their hands in their pockets and
pay all the expenses they may incur, trusting
to Congress to reimburse them when the Iyrgent
Deficiency Appropriation bill is reached in De-
cemher There is no doubt that Congress will
repay the commissioners all they expend and Az
is probable that each of them will be paid for
his services. probably at the rate of $40 or $40
a day.
Brigadier General John VI. Wilson the milf
tary member OF the commission. and Colonel
Carroll ID. Wright. the recorder. had an sx-
tended conference with President Roosevelt to-
day They discussed pretty fully the events
leading up to the appointment of the conmis
sion. and tentatively some arrangements for its
work On leaving the White House General
Wilson said II was yet too early to discuss for
publication the work of the commission. He IN
timated that it would be organized in Wash
ingtOn. but when and where its sittfngs wouId
be held were details which would be worked out
by the commission ITSELF Later in the day f.
w. Parker, the mining expert of the connis-
sion. called at the White House with DR. David
t. Day. of the Geological Survey. and formally
accepted his appointment Mr.. Parker remained
with the President and Colonel Wright for a,
considerable time
Carroll d. Wright. as recorder will not have a.
vote. The following authoritative statement
was made to-day:
The commission is so constituted that It will
upon which there is a dispute.
This means that Colonel Wright IS not TO be,
regarded member of the commission in pass
ing questions at issue before it. An official
Of the War Department with great deal OF ex-s
perience said:
In all military boards and courts the recorders
has no vote. but he is the man who runs the
board.
Colonel Wright will keep the records. summon
witnesses. carry out the orders of the commits.
sion and perhaps prepare it's report under in-
structiOns.
MITCHELL'S COURSE DISAPPOINTING.
Satisfaction over the termination OF the striks
has been somewhat lessened by the failure o.
the miners to return to work promptly. There
with which Mr.. Mitchell and his men are mov-
ing. Putting of the convention until Monday.
with the result that the Ra~?swin not get back
into the mines until two OF sITee days after that.
is regarded as unnecessary delay. Mr. Mitch
ell would have been more generally approved if
he had called his convention for to-day and had
got the men into the mines Monday II ia
evident from the drift Of comment to-day that
attention is now centred on Mr. Mitchell and his
followers and their failure to come up to pub
lie expectation will be severely criticized. There
is danger that occasion for criticism will occur
when the men go back into the mines and come
in contact with the non-union men who have
been at work If Mr.. Mitchell Is able to restrain
his followers from acts OF violence against these
non-unfon men he will show himself IL is said
here 10 be one of the most powerful labor leaders
in the country and will advance his union i'm
public estimation
The long letter which Mr.. Mitchell sent TO ths
President accepting the commission Is being
to some criticism in Washington It's
tone Is thought TO be lower than thar on Whlch
Mr. Mitchell had heretofore kept his side OF the
controversy and some features OF 1t do not give
much encouragement to the hope that harmony
will prevail between the operators ana the
union The sentence most severely cr1CiCiSed "a
that IN which he says:
1--WE forgive them (the operators) their arro~
CANT refusal to deal with US, and In this hour,
when thew are forced TO acknowledge their M
a bilfty to operate their mines WtthOut our con-
sant and co-operation we hold out the right
hand OF friendship and ask them TO join us IN
securing amicable relations and wholesome cons
ditions in this region
az tIIatifvine their contention that the union
continually interfered with the manaserent %
their prODertY.