The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-11-04
ARBITRATION BOARD MAKES ITS
FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT.
AS TO CHANGE OF WAGES
Revision of Schedule, If Any Is Made,
Will Date from Novem.
Der First.

Scranton, Pa, Oct. 31.-The anthra-
cite strike commission has officially
decided that if any change is made
in the rate of wages of the men, it
shall date from tomorrow, November
l.. This announcement was made in
the following brief statement given
out by Recorder Wright this morning:
Voted unanimously that if the com
mission at the conclusion Of it's hear
ings and deliberations, make any
award affecting existing rates of
wages, such award shall take effect
from November /, 1902"
The recorder stated that this reso-
luton was adopted by the commission
in order to relieve itself from pres
sure from any source which might
cause undue haste and to enable all
parties to facilitate their calculations.
The action of the commission in TAX
ing this step at this time will a w a
lot of time. 1t is believed each side
will 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
proposition to President Roosevelt,
wanted the commission to fx the date.
The miners wanted the prospective
.o4o ~ 1o ,o%r1o1+i1yo on1 r0 into
effect on the day when the miners re-
turned to work, which was a week ago
yesterday, October %.
President Mitchell, who was here
last night, left for Wilkesbarre today
before the announcement was made.
1t is not known here what he thinks
of the commissions action. The pro-
gram of the commission for today
called for an inspection of the Man
vile colliery at Green Ridge, two
miles from this city, and a drive
through the nearby territory for the
purpose of viewing the habitants of
the men who toll in the mines. The
commissioners expect to complete
their inspection of this region this
afternoon and go to W~ilkesbarre to-
morrow morning.
Mines Inspected.
The commissioners left. the hotel at
800 and drove to the Manville mine,
which was inspected at the sugges-
ton Of the mine workers representa-
tives. The Manville shaft is 46O feet
deep. The conditions at this colliery
are claimed to be the worst in the
Scranton region, the veins averaging
less than three feet in thickness, and
there being barely room enough for
miners to stand up. The mine has
been in operation % years and is
built in the old style, that is, the
breaker is directly over the shaft in
stead of being 200 feet away from
the mouth of the opening, as the law
now requires.
The commissioners inspected three
breasts and were in the mine two
hours and a half The first breast
was 1900 feet from the foot of the
shaft and the commissioners had to
walk along in a STOPPING position,
owing to the low rock. 1t was ex-
tremely tiresome for those unaccus-
toned to the mine.
At the face of the breast, a miner
and helper were found. Some of the
commission piled the two men with
all sorts OF questions. The miner
said he was able to get out -four OR
five cars a day; told how much he
made and gave other information to
the commissioners.
Judge Gray was so fatigue" by walk.
ing in a bent over position for an hour
that he decided to go to the surface.
He was hoisted to the top with
Bishop Spalding.
General Wilson was the most ag
gressive of the commissioners in seek
ing information. He did not appear
to mind the physical discomfort. He
asked many questions of both the
company officials and the miners and
usually got answers from both side:
that were at variance with each 9th
er. Commissioners Clark and Parker
also piled the miners with many ques
lions. The commissioners returned
to their hotel at 1 o'clock.
Preparing for the Work.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, Oct. 31.-Presi
dent Mitchell returned from Scranton