The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-11-04
Mine COMMISSION
Weeks Recess to be Taken
Before Any testimony
Will be Received.

Scranton, Pa, November 1.-The ar
gagged in settling the differences exist
ing between the anthraclte coal opera
tors and the mine workers, decided to-
day, while on their tosar OF the Wyo-
ming Valley. to adjourn next Thursday
until Friday. November 14th, when the
taking Of testimony will begin in this
city. The first four days of next week
will be taken up III inspecting the
mines and mining towns from Hazel
on SoGth TO the end of the hard coal
fields. All of shls territory is in dis
tricts No. and of the United Mine
Workers, OF America, and is under the
jurisdiction O. President Thomas Duffy
and John Fahy of the union. who will
accompany the commission. Chairman
Gray said that the object in taking a
recess OF ore week was for the purpose
Of giving both sides sufficient time to
prepare their cases, and alse to give
the members of the commission an op-
portunity to examine the issues. 1t Is
the inter ton to have the miner@ who
are considered the plaintiffs submit
their case first.
The SXty-seven Individual operators
will be given an opportunity to be
heard, as well as all the larger coal
companies The miners will take w
considerable time in presenting their
side Of the case. The question of max
ing a preliminary report on some of
the Issues involved, such as the in
crease of wages, q shorter work day,
and the weighing of coal at the mouth
of the mines. has not yet been officially
taken up by the commission, and it is
not definitely known tonight that il
will be considered hv the commission
ers.
The ;Arbitrators spent tue entire day
in and about the city Of Wilkesbarre
visitin e one mine and making a tour
of sew eral of the towns on the outSkirt:
of the: city. The commissions specia
train left here art $50 a. m. and reach
ed the Dorrance colliery OF the Lehigf
Valley Company at North Wilkesbarrt
one hroTr later. Nearly two hours wers
spent. in TIE mine about $50 feet below
the surface. The mine is very gas
eous one and the commissioners ant
other members of their partO were
com PEELED to carry safety lamps. The!
were told the mine was dangerous, bu
their eagerness for informa ton as tt
the physical features of the various
min es was so great that the unsafe con
dit ON of the workings did not detel
the m from entering. 4.
Today was All Saints Day and it !;
religiousfy observed by many of tn
foreign speaking mine workers. Fo
this reason no coal was mined in tn
Dorrance and many other collierie
throughout the region. The compan.
officials drew the attention. of the com
Rissioners to this enforced curtailmen
in the production OF coal.
After the commission took luncheon
SnpPia1 no
trolley car and visited South Wilkes
barre. Ashley, Sugar Notch and Plym
outh inhabited principally by min
workers. The commissioners did no
leave the car, but wherever it stopped
a crowd would gather, which gave then
an opportunity to ask questions re
garding rents and other living expenses
President Mitchell probably will max
his statement of the a emands of. tn
miners to the commissi on on Monda,
and the operators will n lake reply il
about three q four daysl