The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-10-30

day in the Upper Lackawanna
valley-Mines in Forest City and
olyphant to Be visited-Repre-
sentatives of the Operators and
the Miners to Accompany the
Party.
The members of the mine strike
commission appointed by President
Roosevelt to investigate the conditions
in the anthracite region and report
working agreement which will tend to
prevent recurrence of strikes, are all
in the city prepared to enter upon their
burdensome task
The commissioners other than Mr.
Watkins, came over the Jersey Central
in a special car, attached to the train
leaving Philadelphia at o'clock.
Brigadier General John NJ. Wilson,
Grand Chief Conductor L. T.. Clark,
Bishop John l.. Spaulding and Commits
soner Of Labor Carroll D. Wright as
sembled at Washington and came on
together to Philadelphia where they
were Joined by Justice George Gray,
who came from Wilmington, and e. w.
L
came from New York.
Edward A. Mosey, secretary of the
Interstate commerce commission. and
Charles N. Neill, vice-president of the
board of chambers of the District of
Columbia, who are to act as assistant
recorders of the commission. and four
stenographers accompanied the party.
Chicago. New York, Philadelphia and
NI
either with the commissioners or on
earlier trains.
Arrival of Commission,
The commissioners party was due
to arrive here at 1890 p. M, but the
train was more than an hour late. Mr..
Watkins private secretary, A. G.
Edwards, met the commissioners and
escorted them to the Jermyn, where
Mr.. Watkins was waiting to greet
them. Bishop Spaulding went with
Bishop Hoban to the episcopal residence
where he will be entertained during
the stay Of the commission in Scran-
ton.
Fourteen rooms on the second floor
of the Jermyn We're reserved for the
commissioners party. Immediately
upon their arrival the commissioners
had an Informal conference in one Of
the rooms to pass upon the arrange
ments Mr.. Watkins had made for to-
day. Everything he had done met
with their approval.
Mr.. Watkins had arrived during the
morning, from Washington and all day
was engaged in mapping out the tour
for the day. 1t was at his suggestion
hn iccir 70 l,aer
it's work by making tour of the region
and becoming acquainted with the
physical features of anthracite mining.
The details We're left to his discretion.
At = o'clock p. M. Mr.. Watkins had a
meeting with the general managers and
superintendents of the local companies
to arrange for visits to the mines. Dis
trict President Nichols. of the United
Mine Workers, attended the conference.
Visit the Upper Valley.
1t was arranged that the commission
should spend the day in the upper val
ley. superintendent Rose of the Della
ware and Hudson company; General
Manager May, of the Erie company:
General Manager Thorne, of the Tenn
pie company, and General Manager
Dryden, of the Ontario. Western COM
pany, will accompany the party as
representatives of the operators. Dis
trct President Nichols will so along
as representative of the miners. Mr..
Watkins invited him to take along any
one he wished to. National Organizer
Collins. of Carbondale. will probably be
with Mr.. Nichols.
Rev. Peter Roberts, Of Mahanoy City,
who has been doing some work for
President Mitchell in the way of pre-
pairing statistics for the mine workers
statement, has been invited, also, by
District President Nichols, at Presi-
dent Mitchell's suggestion. Mr.. Nichols
said he would also take along one or
two practical miners from the upper
end of the valley.
The party will leave Hotel Jermyn
at $50 O'Clock and proceed to the Della
ware and Hudson station where q
special train will be in waiting. The
train will consist of three Pullman cars,
two for the commissioners and those
whom they have invited to accom-
pany them, and one for the newspaper
men. The commissioners engaged two
of the cars. The newspapermen will
pay for the third.
move slowly up the valley to Forest
City. There the commissioners will go
to one of the Erie mines. The morning
will be spent underground. Nh Wat
kins has arranged to have Il superin-
tendent, fire boss or an old practical
miner. thoroughly acquainted with the
workings, to accompany each member
of the party, as precaution against
be invited to accompany the party into
the mines.
Lunch at Carbondale.
The party will probably lunch In
Carbondale and. then return to Scran-
ton by way of the Ontario and Western,
stopping at Olyphant to visit other coll
lieries ana look about the miners
homes. Scranton will be reached about
q o'clock.
on Friday the commission will spend
the day visiting collieries in and about
the city of Scranton and viewing the
mining suburbs. Saturday the COM
mission will so to Wilkes-Barre to
further prosecute these Investigations.
Mr.. Watkins stated 10 Tribune re-
porter, yesterday afternoon, that the
commission viii probably not sit to
take testimony until after IL tour of the
region has been completed. 1t is pos
sible though that session will take
place, Monday, in Wilkes-Barre to re-
ceive the statement to be presented by
President Mitchell of the mine workers.
to which the operators have agreed to
make answer within three days. AT all
events it is almost certainty that no
testimony will be taken in this city this
week