Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1902-10-31
ARBITRATORS
START WORK
Strike Commission to Investigate
Mines and Homes of Men.
sAER OBJECTS TO MITCHELL

Readings President Took Exceptions
to Labor Leader Representing Mine
Workers Union-operators Offer to
Furnish Full Data-commissio Will |
Not Accept Special Train Offered
Them BY Presidents Of Coal Roads.
Washington, Oct. 28.-The anthra-
cite coal strike commission yesterday,
in the hearing room of the interstate
commerce commission, held it's first
conference with the parties to the con-
troversy in the anthracite regions. The
commission occupied the elevated
seats, Judge Gray, as president, occu-
plying 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 pro-
ceedings covered about two hours
time and were given up entirely to a
discussion of the time and method Of
proceeding with the proposed investi-
cation.
Mr.. Mitchell, president of the United
Mine Workers of America, and Dis
trict President Fahey appeared for
the miners, and the coal carrying
roads were represented as follows:
President Baer, of the Reading; E. B.
Thomas, of the Pennsylvania Coal
Company; Alfred Walter, of the Le-
high Valley; w. H. Truesdale, of the
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western;
David Wilcox, of the Delaware and
Hudson; John B. Herr, of the Scran-
ton Coal Company; J. H. Torrey, at
torney for the Delaware and Hudson,
and Francis I. Gowan, attorney for the
Lehigh Valley Company.
To Begin Its Work at Scranton.
The commission decided to be-
gin its work Thursday morning at 9
o'clock, the first days of the investiga-
ton to be devoted to an examination
of the mines and the homes of tho
miners. starting in the vicinity of
| Scranton. The entire anthracite field
will be covered. There was consider
able discussion over a proposition
made by the commission to have ex-
pert accountants appointed to audit
statements of wages and classification
of miners to be made by the operators
for the use of the commission. but no
result was reached on this point be-
yond the announcement by the chair
man of the commissions intention to
appoint such an accountant in case his
services should be found necessary.
During the progress of the meeting
Mr. Mitchell. as the representative OF
the miners, presented a copy of the
original declaration of the miners as
formulated by the Shamokin conven
ton, as the basis Of the demands Of
the miners. This demand is for al
increase of 20 per cent. in wages O
those not engaged by the day, a re
duction of 20 per cent. in working
hours of those engaged by the day
the payment for coal mined by weigh
at a minimum rate of go cents per tol
of 2,240 pounds; a wage agreement be
tween the operators and the miners TO
, an adjustment of wages.
5aer objects to Mitchell.
Mr.. Baer, on the part of the coal OF
orators. took exception to Mr.. Mitch
! ellis appearance before the commits
sion as a representative of the Min
> Workers Union, but said that he ha
no objection to his presence as a rel
= resentative Of the strikers as such 1
. their individual capacity. The con
mission made no attempt to settle tn
controversy, but it was made appare1
! that the recognition of the Miners
Union will be an important and knott
problem for the arbitrators.
Preceding the discussion over opel
ing the books to the experts, M
Baer said the operators would be pr
d pared to meet the miners in the regio
n and to assist in giving all information
Many of the individual operators al
Q not represented, and they were NJ
n consulted and were not compromise
g by the letter he had written.
$ Judge Gray suggested that the
could be represented. At the meetiI