The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-10-28

O1 tilf CpfilrnNSHltl anu SDrntlnlnR 10 Which,
the coal companies could reply. but not
large array of facts and an elaborate argu-
ment
Mr. Mitchell said that the deman d.
formulated by the Shamokin convention
wero: An increase Of 20 per cent in wages
TO employees performing contract or piece
work "A reduction of 30 per cent. in the
hours of salariad employees. coal 10 be paid
for by weight. wages and conditions of
employment 10 he incorporated in an agree
ment. together with "a satisfactory method
of settling grievances that may ari-" from
time 10 time, IN order that strikes might be
UNNECESSARY"
Mr.. Bner then addressed the commission.
saving that ho wanted TO state IN the he
ginning, to avoid any trouble that might
arise in the future that while he had no
objection To the recognition OF MIR. Nltcheu
a. the representative OF the miners OF tne
anthracite region, he could not agree 10
recogniZp Mr. Mitchell a. the president OF
the Uni ed Mine Workers, because tina, Is a
bi,umirous coal organization. and he could
not consent To have Mr.. Mitchell 60 on
record before the commission as the repre-
sentative of that organization.
To this Nr. Mitchell made no answer.
and Mr.. Bacr proceeded. He suggested
that the Commission visit tn" anthracite
coal region and there tegin liz inNesliga,
ton. In his opinion the interests oI al
the coal companies could MOI d" rept'
scented 10y any one person. lie said that
much diversity of opinion exists among
the operators, and he could speak for th"
Philadelphia and Reading Coal ana IRON
Company only. He personally would IA
yor the rr-uinDtiO of the sliding scale.
which, ne said. had given 80 much salts
faction. II, added That during the tline
that the proht--harng system was ~
vogue peace reigncd IN the coal regions
He thought the operators would b. ape
to present their answer To Mi Mltchtll
within three days after they saw his state
ment Mr. Baer was of the opinion that
the sooner the mnc regions we're visited
the better for the purposes OF the COM
mission.
wa- rather more than ample time in which
to prepare the statement of the miners,
but was again informed by Mr. Mitchell
that il would take until Monday. Again
the chairman of the COMMISSION cautioned
him that he need not make any argument
or final statement of facts. Mir. mitchell
profes sad To understand what was desired
and il was thought he was gong TO answer
Mr.. Baer'S reference 20 his otlClal con-
ncction with the United Mine Workers
when he said Il appear here a. the repre-
sentative OF the anthracite coal mime
workers." but at that moment tn" Com
missoncrs were comforting and he sal
down.
the attitude o. hi- company and suggested
that they would liz. their employees, union
and uou-uuiuu. 10 meet and appoint a
committee of workers TO present thelr
grievance for adjustment Such an
fcrencc- A. could not toe al lusted between
them might BE- submitted To the Coal strike
Commission for its consideration.
David y Wilcox, speaking next, SAID
he wanted To- emphasize what Mr.. ba"r
had called attention TO before, that the
companie- had TO he heard separately
He thought that a. there are great mahv
non-union workmen in the mines they
should b. represented before the commits
sion. a. also the Individual inlne operators
who are not now represented by any one
He mentioned the firm ot u, b. MarkIe
4 Co, and said there were many others
who in his opinion. should be invited 10y
the commission to appear. Nj. Baer S'iS,
gested that the names Of all Individual
operators could be easily ascertalned. Mr..
Wilcox rs-uming, urged that each mime
had it, own characteristic ana should I've
inquired into separately.
The commission now reached the questlo
of statistics and Judge Gray AT hrst pro-
posed that there would probably h'
large mass Of figures submitted, II might
lie easier 10 have two accountants go over
the books of the companies, one 10 u"
selected by the miners and one by tn" op"r-
ators The only books necessary To eX-
anime would be those showing rates OF
nav As thi. plan involved an agreement
tetween MIR. Mitchell and the operators
the former very persistently urged MS
abortion Me,sr- Bacr and Wilcox said
that they were already compiling such
information and would presnnt 1t 10 the
commission when desired Mr.. Mitchell
was fearful thai It would he offered cor
rcctly, hli enormously Incorporated.
NJ Weye then urged very strongly the
adoption of the Method suggested by Judge
GRAY and argued that If such an arrange
rnent could be made the miners would re-
frain from presenting their figures OF wages
and payments AZ compiled bv them.
Instantly Mr. Baer responded; I'VE
would I've glad 20 hav" a' their statistic.
We would b. pleased If they would submit
all h. information they have. That would
hoe a chcrh upon III statements submtte!
by us
Mr. Weylo admitted that their figures
were incomp'ete. hut said that II the opera
ton were Wiling to admit the accuracy of
the miners figures they would. Of course.
oher them.
sThat we will meyer do, quickly answered
Nc B1er =,
Il hardly expected YOU would, Mr..
Baor." replied Mr.. Woyle hlandly.
Judge Gray modified hi- proposal 80
,hlt hoh side, should submit hnir figures
and then ON" auditor could b. appointed
hv the commission 20 60 over the different
statement and reconc'l" any dif"rnnc"s,
thus avoiding CONTROVERSY. This did not
quite sa,i.fy Mr.. Mitchell, hut Mr. Bacr
was perfectly willing TO accept s'lcn an
arrang cement and ~" commission thought
" fair.
NJ. E1Hi ClErHi 't N we Ms tf'ikS give
Nr N'Cucll an the de-lrcd Information re
gar,lng rates Of wages, hV' when Mr..
Mitchell estei IN, commission TO call
uyon the In'or~'l alto tommerr" COM
mission Tor Information inter ling To both
sides. Nh Bar IauShlng,y erprc-@"d the
hopo thar ~ n Information wOlld bc con-
fined % m" coal strike question.
'Ies, said Judge Gray, I'VE do not want
any Information about ia" Northwest
fisheries
Then u was that tho commission resumed
the discussion Of plans for visiting the coal
mines. and Judge Grav asked for -ug-
gestionS ~ Ia whore they should begin,
whether in he northern section or the
southern
canuo, -reak for the upper regions"
raid Nj Baer, and pointing downward,
he added II am IN the lower regions"
Mr. Thomas thought sound deter
rnination much more TO be desired than
speedy on" and that plenty Of time should
he devoted 10 this phas" Of the invcsti-
gatiOn.
Mr. Watkins, who l. retired coal opera
tor, suggested that week or ten DAYS might
b. enough, hut President Thomas quickly
remarked you will be- doing well to
10 u in that time. We have spent "A life
time az II "
Judge GRAY What time would YOU
ts-f for tn