Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-22
STRIKE Commission
Members Summoned to Meet
Here Next Friday.
ALL HAVE REPLIED
PROBABLY WILL ASSEMBLE IN
MR.. WRIGHTs OFFICE.
First Work Will Be That of organiza-
tion-Will Then Call on
the President
ALL HAVE REPLIED

President Roosevelt has summoned the
members of the coal strike arbitration COM
mission to meet In this city Friday morning
at 10 O'Clock to begin the work for which
they were appointed. This action was
taken late yesterday Afternoon, Immediately
upon receipt by him of a telegram from
President Mitchell of the miners union
that the strike had been declared off and
that the miners would return to work
Thursday morning a O'Clock A tee-
gram was then sent to President Mitchell
notifying him of this fact Telegraphic re-
sponses have been received from all mem
bers of the commission.
The Presidents desire in the arbitration
matter is to have it begun and concluded as
speedily possible. For this reason he
lost no time in summoning the commission
together and fixed the date of the first
meeting so to allow only time enough
for the commissioners to get to WASHINGTON
The news of the termination of the strike
was received by the President with great
satisfaction, and as the next move in the
matter depended on him he lost no time in
making that move.
First Meeting for Organization.
Although there is no to speak with
authority to the procedure of the conn
mission, there is no doubt that the first
meeting will be devoted entirely to organ
ization. After this has been perfected as
matter of courtesy. its members will pro-
ceed to the temporary White House and
pay their respects to the President This
opportunity will doubtless be taken advan-
tage of by the executive to communicate
any instructions or suggestions he may
wish. These will probably be that the work
to be accomplished shall be prosecuted Wig
orousy to speedy conclusion.
Until the commission is organized the de-
TOLL -sNft tt,a,
laid before it. and this is the case none
of its members are in a position to discuss
possible procedure
It IS the consensus of opinion in official
circles that Judge Gray will be chosen
as chairman. The mention of Gen. Wilson's
name first on the commission when il was
appointed is said not to indicate in the least
his choice for a chairman. In making the
appointments the President simply followed
the order indicated by the operators in their
proposition, and in their suggestion an en-
gineer oxbcer of the army navy was men
toned fist. The proceedings of the COM
mission will be in the nature of court pro-
ceedngs and Judge Grays familiarity with
this procedure makes him the logical choice
for chairman.
The Next Step.
AS soon as the organization is perfected
and the official call paid to the President tho
demands of the miners and the Intention
of the operators will undoubtedly be filed
with 1T in writing. President Mitchell an
nounced before the miners convention that
he would lay their case before the commits
sion. With the claims of each side before
it it will necessarily be the duty of the
commission to ascertain the underlying con-
ditions facts upon which each side rests
it's contentious. This will entail a de-
tailed investigation of many technical ques-
tions. In his report to the President on the
present strike Commissioner Carroll d.
Wright, who is the recorder of the commits
CT m Snj hat harn y
questions involved and more sides to the
controversy than he had ever met with in
his many years of experience in investigat-
ing labor troubles. The miners claim that
they are cheated in the weighing of coal.
This, in fact, is one of the most serious Of
their grievances. They will be called to
testify before the commission regarding
this belief. The operators will be given an
opportunity to give their testimony on the
same point. But the operation of weighing
coal will be capable of practical demonstra-
ton, and the commission may find it neces-
sary to get its facts In some instances
from the mines themselves.
1t is not believed that the sessions Of the
commission viii be held in Washington
after the organization has been perfected.
The witnesses are all In other places, ami
1t would be an undo ubted hardship to COM
pei miners to travel from the mines to this
city to give their testimony. When the
side of the miners is being obtained The
commission will undoubtedly sit in Wilkes
barre or some other place in the coal
lent also to come to the coal fields during
the investigation, and undoubtedly their
side will also be presented at the same
place.
Question of Publicity.
The question to whether the meetings
of the commission will be open to the pub
lie or to the press has, of course, not been
decided upon. The great amount of pubic
interest involved, however, would seem to
make it desirable to allow the public press
access to the proceedings
The first meeting of the commission Fri
day morning will probably be held in the
office of Carroll D. Wright, commissioner
of labor, at the corner of 10Th street and
New York avenue
Both Mr.. Wright and Gen. Wilson. who
is a resident of this city. were seen this
morning by Star man, bat both deelin ii
L. aiuai i1a.ar .-l< <ez4