The Savannah morning news., 1902-10-28
COMMISSION CONFER
PARTIES TO COAL CONTROVERSY
HOLD FIRST SESSION.
WAS FULL REPRESENTATION
p.RTIEs TO BOTH SIDES PRESENT
IN NUMBERS.

A.
Procee dingis -tGi yspS Cup to. Tlme and
w.thod of. - H4sSsss.sIing tl.s ;SS1utter
Before the CoinmissiSs,; -s1Nork
viii Begin To-day startfHEswith
examination of the Homes of
Miners-President Mitchell Pre-
SCENTS Copy of Original ShamO<in
convention Document - President
Baer Contends for Sliding Scale.
Washington, Oct. 27.-The anthracite |
coal strike commission to-day in the
hearing room of the Interstate Com
merce Commission held it's first con-
ference with the parties to the con-
troversy in the anthracite regions.
There was a full representation of both
operators and miners, and members of
the press and a number of other in
terested parties were present. The
commission occupied the elevated seats
generally filed by members of the In
terstate Commerce Commission, Judge
Gray, as president, occupying. the CEN
- ter seat, and Messrs. Wright. Watkins
and Clark, the seats to the right of him
in the order named, while Gen. Wilson,
Bishop Spalding and Mr.. Parker sat
on the left in the order of their names.
The proceedings covered about two
hours time and were given up entirely
to discussion of the time and method
of proceeding with the proposed inves-
tigation.
The commission decided to begin its
work next Tuesday morning at 8
o'clock, the first days of the investiga-
ton to be devoted to a physical ex-
animation of the mines and the homes
of the miners, starting in the vicinity
of Scranton. The entire anthracite
field will be covered There was con-
siderable discussion over a proposition
made by the commission to have expert
accountants appointed to audit state
ments 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-
IlOn, as Iut Qd5lS vi lIic AcliSiIIuSs u
the miners. This demand us, first, for
an increase of 20 per cent. in wages,
of those not engaged by the day; sec
ond, a reduction of 20 per cent. in
working hours of those engaged by
the day; third, the payment for coal
mined by weight at a minimum rate
of 60 cents per ton of 2,240 pounds,
fourth. a wage agreement between the
operators and the miners for an adj
justment of wages.
Mr.. Baer on the part of the coal OPP
orators took exception to Mr.. Mitch
ellis appearance before the commission
as a representative of the mine work.
ers union, but said that he had no OBJ
lection to his presence as a representa-
tive of the strikers as such in their in
dividual capacity. The commission
made no attempt to settle the contro-
versy, but it was made apparent that
the recognition of the miners union will
be an important and knotty problem
for the arbitrator.
The coal carrying roads were repre-
sented as follows:
President Baer of the Philadelphia
and Reading; E. B. Thomas chairman
OF the board of the Erie; Alfred Wal
ter, president of the Lehigh Valley;
w. H. Truesdale, president of the Del
aware, Lackawanna and Western
David Wilcox, vice president of the
Delaware and Hudson; John B. Herr,
vice president of the Scranton Coal
company; ]. H. Torrey, attorney for
the Delaware and Hudson, and Francis
]! GoWan, attorney for the Lehigh VAL
ley
The miners were represented ty
President Mitchell. District President
Fahy and Walter E. Weyl.
Preceding the discussion over open
Ing the books to the experts, Mr.. Baer
made point of saying that the case
OF each coal company would be dealt
With separately. He would contend
for the sliding scale in the regulation
OF wages and urge the adoption of
proht sharing plan.
Mr.. Thomas said he noticed that the
word arbitration had been applied
TO the commissions work. while he
wanted it considered as an investiga-
ton
Judge Gray said the Presidents in
struction settled that it was an arbi-
tration.
suggestion that both sides appoint
experts to examine the books of the
companies was made by Judge Gray,
the chairman of the commission.
Mr.. Baer, after expressing his disin-
chnaton to accept this suggestion, said
mat his company would submit their
pay rolls under oath of their account
ant.
President Mitchell said that it would
facilitate the work of the commission
II 1t would accept a general statement
on those issues that affect all the COM
panies and the mine workers alike, for
instance. the question of shorter hours.
Mr.. Truesdale said that his company
mad plan by which 1t was hoped to
Speedily adjust the differences between
MS company and the men. This plan
was for the miners to appoint COM
mlttee to meet a committee of his COM
ipany and discuss their grievances, and
there were any such that could not
De settled, then those issues should go
ton
=, Dr. Weyl. for the miners, said that If
the suggestions of the chairman were
accepted. Mr. Mitchell and himself
would not present the statistics they
mad prepared.
resident Baer, however, thought
mat these statistics would be check
Sn the companies payrolls and should
De presented.
Mr: Mitchell responded that he would
10Y be insistent on the subject, ana
'urnlng to Mr.. Baer, said:
IL we are able to agree as to what
rates are paid for different classes OF
morkmen, their monthly and annual
edrnings, that would form basis OF
any any arguments that might be made on
Ell ~.