Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-01
If Parties Know Award Will Be RetrOspec-
tive Anxiety Will Be Less,
DECISION ALSO STOPS PROBABLE FIGHT
Miners and Operators Might Otherwise
Contend a. to Day,
COMMISSION SEES WORST NINE IN FIELD
Funnel So Low Members Have to stOOp
All Time I'm Most Uncomfortable
Position and Judge Gray
Gives Up.

SCRANTON, Pa, Oct. 31.--The anthracite
strike commission has oficially decided
that IL any change is made in the rate OF
wages Of the men It shall date from to-
morrow. November 1. This announcement
was made by the commission through Re-
corder Wright in the following brief state
ment, given out by him at o'clock this
morning:
Voted unanimously that IL the commits
sion az the conclusion of its hearings and
deliberations makes any award affecting
existing rates of wages, such award shall
take enect from November ], 1892.
The recorder OF the commission stated
that this resolution was adopted by the
commission because It felt that It was i'm
portant to make its Investigations delib-
erately. and that It might be we'll in order
to relieve itself from pressure from any
source which might cause undue haste, to
inform the operators and the miners that
should the Investigation and the delibera-
tons following u warrant any change
whatever. either In the way OF increase or
reduction Of wages. such change should be
from q certain date, thus enabling all par
ties to facilitate their calculations.
Action win save Time.
The action Of the commission in taking
this step at this time will save the COM
missloners lot Of time 1t is known that
each side to the controversy would take a
determined stand on the question of when
the new rate OF wages. If one is made, shall
go into effect.
The operators in their original PROPOSE
tion to President Roosevelt wanted the
commission TO hx the date. The miners
wanted the prospective new rate to be re-
troactive and 90 into effect on the day when
WaaANa
week ago yesterday, October 23 President
Mitchell, who was here over night, left for
lWilkesbarre today before the announcement
was made. 1t is not known here what he
thinks Of the commissions action.
1t is possible the commission may make
preliminary report on three principal
strike questions.
First, the increase dn wages; second, a
, shorter work day. and, third. the weighing
-ofesal.i ~, ast lss,-sf4s, e 'ss ~ ~
rAtteB these have been decided the com
mission can take up all other questions
Without undue haste
: The members OF the party were up early
today and ready for another hard days
work. They left the hotel soon after the
arrival OF Commissioner T. H. Watkins
whose home is in this city. Mr.. Watkins
owning to his intimate knowledge of minine
in this region. is the guiding spirit of the
party. He arranged yesterdays trip and
has general charge Of today's tour. In this
he is assisted by the superintendents Of the
companies located In this vicinity and also
by President NIcolls OF District No. / OF
the Miners union.
The Manville mine, which was inspected
t today, is operated jointly by the Delaware
& Hudson and the Delaware, Lackawanna
& Western companies.
The mine IL one Of the worst in this ter.
ritory. The veins are small and there II
barely room enough for workmen to stanC
up. This colliery was visited at the sug
gcstion OF the mine workers representa-
tives.
GO Down I'm Mine.
The commissioner party left the hote
at $50 o'clock and drove 10 the Manvill,
mine After donning suitable clothing tn,
party proceeded underground.
Accompanying the commissioners wer,
Assistant Recorders Moseley ana Neill
General Superintendent Rose OF the Della
ware & Hudson and General superintendent
Phillips OF the Delaware. Lackawanna
Western. which companies operate the Man
Vile eolliery on alternate months; Distric
President Nicolls OF the United Mine Work
ers; P. w. Tolan. president OF the Manvill
Watkins. foreman OF the mine.
Commissioner Wright did not 60 into tn
mine. but returned to- the hotel to Loo
after correspondence.
The Manville shaft Is 400 feet deep. Th
conditions at this colliery are claimed to b
the worst in the Scranton region, tae vein
averaging less than three feet In thickness
The mine has been in operation twenty-tw
years and is built In the old style, that ii
the breaker is directly over the shaft in
stead Of being 200 feet away from the mout
OF the opening. as the law now requires.
Ask Many Questions.
The commissioners inspected thre
breasts and were In the mine two hOuI
and q half The frst breast was 2,2C
feet from the foot OF the shaft and III
commissioners had to walk along in
STOPPING position. owing to the low roo
1t was extremely tiresome for those VI
accustomed to the mine.
At the face Of the breast a miner an
his helper were found. Some OF the con
missioners piled the two men with all sor
of questions. The miner said he was alb
TO get out four or hve cars day. to-
how much he made and gave other informi
'tion to the commissioners
On the way 70 this breast superintendei
AAoSC NaAAN4 aNNNutANH ~ AiaAA VI "a
nlled with coal The rules OF the compal
require that there must be six inches
topping "a each ear. The cars exhibit,
we're aiied only to the top edges of Il
sides.
In commenting on this Mr.. Rose said
was a sample Of how the company is in
posed upon by some of the men.
The visitors we're then taken 1000 feet
another direction. 10 where miner W
working an an FORMULATION OF water. tn
miner Was quesliOnsd principally regardii
the water. ne told how he took IL o
every morning before doing any mini
and also what compensation he receive
He called attention 70 the loose rock eve
head. which made bad roofing. often fslh
and compelling him TO spend eonsiderah
time In improving conditions about 4
breast.
In reply to question as to how much