The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1902-10-29
TO INSPECT THE MINES
Commiss on Will Commence at
Scranton on Thursday.

to Wages and Hours Made by Opera.
tors and Miners - Commission Re.
fused MIR. Baer's Offer of Special
Train-Homes to Be Visited.
Washington, Oct. 2S.-The anthra
cite coal strike commission, in the
hearing lccm Of the interstate com
merce commission, held its first con.
ference with the parties to the contro-
versy in the anthracite regions.
There was a full representation of
both operators and miners, and mem.
bers of the press and other interested
parties were present.
The commission occupied the ele.
waited seats generally filled by mem.
bers Of the interstate commerce com.
mission, Judge Gray as president
occupying the center seat, and Messrs
Wright, Watkins and Clark, the seats
to the right Of him in the order named,
while General Wilson, Bishop Spald.
ing and Mr. Parker sat on the left in
the order of their names.
The proceedings covered about
two hours time, and were given up en-.
tirely to discussion Of the time and
method OF proceeding with the pro
posed investigation. The commission
decided to begin its work next Thurs
day morning at o'clock.
The first days of the investigation
are to be devoted to an examination
of the mines and homes of the miners,
starting in the vicinity of Scranton.
The entire anthracite field will be
covered.
There was considerable discussion
over proposition made by the com,
appointed to audit statements of wages
AMI classifying Of miners to be made
to the operators fer the use of the
commission, but no result was reached
on this point beyond the announce
ment by the chairman of the commits.
siOn's intention to appoint such an
accountant in case his service should
be found necessary.
President Gray announced that the
commission for the present would pro.
ceed without appointing an expert,
but it would require that statements
be presented and then added an ac.
cOuntant could be secured in case it
was found his services were needed.
The question of the examination by
the commission into the conditions in
which the mining Of anthracite coal
Is conducted was then entered on, and
Mr.. Watkins of the commission sug
gestef that a week or 10 days time
would be necessary in order to make
an adequate examination of the physic
al conditions about the mines. He
appealed to Mr.. Thomas for his opinion
as to the time necessary and that gen
tleman replied you will certainly
need that much time; | should think
that 80 days would be none too much
We've grown gray in our study Of that
question:
Mr.. Baer also fell in with the sug.
gestion, saying that it would be i'm.
possible to 10 justice to the investi-
cation without a complete inspection
Of the mines and the methods of oper.
ating them.
Mr.. Mitchell thought that not only
should there be an inspection of the
mines but also of the homes of the
miners.
After consulting the members Of the
commission President Gray announced
that it would begin its inspection
next Thursday, commencing its work
in District No. /, in which the city Of
Scranton is located.
While the subject was up Mr.. Baer
said that the mine operators would
furnish all facilities at their command
to enable the commission to make It's
investigation thorough, adding that
they would place a special train at the
disposal Of the commission, providing
also for the accommodation of a repre-.
sentative Of the mineus.
The public meeting Of the commits
sion then came to a close and the com
missioners retired for the purpose of
private consultation. They first took
up the question which had been raised
by the proffer of a special train by
Mr.. Baer and unanimously decided
not to accept the train.
The exchange of views brought out
the fact that the commissioners expect
personally to pay all of their expenses,
accepting no fayors and relying on the
government to reimburse them if so
disposed.
An agreement was reached to leave |
the Hotel Jermyn in Scranton at 9 !
o'clock next Thursday morning for the |
first tour Of inspection. There was
however. no agreement as TO what |
mines should be visited first, that |
point being left for future determine
ton.
Lynch Court Martial.
Washinton. Oct. 24.-The record of