New-York tribune., 1902-09-04
REPORT ON COAL STRIKE.
RESULT OF CARROLL u. WRiGHT'S IN
VESTIGATION.
rAI-sES of TROTRIE BETWEEN MINERS
AND EMPLOYERS-THE PRESIDENT HAS
NO POWER TO INTERFERE.

AND EMPLOYERS-THE PRESIDENT HAS
NO POWER TO INTERFERE.
Washington Sept. 3.-Carroll y. Wright, Com
missioner Of Labor. designated by the Fresl-
dent in June last to investigate and report 10 MIN
1he causes and conditions accompanying the pres
ent controversy between the Pennsylvania anthra-
cite coal operators and their miners. Twelve days
later Mr. Wright submitted his findings to the
President After carefully going over the report
the President submitted it to the Attorney General
who after giving it full and careful considerat tlon'
reports that the Executive has no power Whatever
to take action in the matter The report accord
(ngv is made public for the information OF the
people.
Mr. Wright conducted his investigation in New
yorl, heing represented in the coal regions by an
experienced man. who he SAYS. had studied the
conditions in the coal regions many tIheS' 'n-
who undertook make the necessary inquiries
relative to the present strike. Mr.. Wright says
that ne knows OF no strike that has presented ~
MANY VARYING conditions, conflicting views ana
irritating complaints The present strike ne says
finds IT'S root the settlement Of the strike IN
1aaa when the advance demanded by the miners was
conceded Since that time there has been increased
sensitiveness and more intense irritation than III the
yrevious TWENTY-FIVE years. The report recites What
eortS were made to secure conference fet"eeh the
operators and the miners before the present sulhe
began and how they failed. and says that from the
first the efforts of the union leaders were directed
toward preventing a strike at this time. believing
that at best il would result in great hardship and
suffering for the miners and their tamlles as wei
as work inca culahle injury to the hGuStflaI inter-
ests Of the country notwithstanding these efforts
the strike was ordered by the Hazeton convention
THE MINERS DEMANDS REVIEWED.
Commission Wright then says:
The specific demands. as given to me in writing
by John Mitchell, the president OF the United Nine
N2rkers o. tbn b4 he an increase OF % per
cent to the miners who are PAID oy th ION -lnaL @
is, for men performing cohtLdeI %OIh. % ~ 'ii
lnyoIye ao2uI A. per f % er cent in the time of
ptT dem employees. The mines are operated about
demand, If granted. would result in reducing the
Gav to eight hours 90 per cent? 50 that the mines
would be operated 24o days at about the same pay az
earnings no increase in the rates of per diem
Thrd-That 22io pounds shall constitute the ton
on which payment IS based TOT al Coal mne9 WneTe
in any district where weighing coal would he
and and to not S ho2 paid T@o BY e h5' sa "
These constitute the specific demands Of the coal
Ra fl,g shla4E Of the dcmands No Grievances We're
presented me Ro"qeT qu@Tg qc@fTana ~aS ,b Miners
wished to the matter of impurities and other
tbeir loci EMPLOYEES for 5diustmcnt these matters
not consttgns Part ,a ct the present controversy
These demands being rejected. the miners sub
"a pr ent i' increas in the pay per ton where
mining IS paid in that manner ana 10 per eTad fem az 70
leave the whole 10 arbitration and inyesti-
Themselves Would comply with the recon-
mendation Of the investtEatng commiItee, ,r, W
iected by the operators and so the issue clearly
'6dSs dems ai6 that they cn hold out for four or
five months. while the operators take the Erotna
that they hold out indefinitely ana IGt tae
make three years contract on the offered terms
that is, onc-half the original demands.
THE UNION AND THE MINERS.
Coal production profits and transportation are
some of the subjects discussed in the report Con
cernng the control Of the union over the miners,
Mr. Wright says:
a an the m s s65y o h miner 5sPS aaon @'f to
control its members 10 any sucn degree as 20
sbaTn conaet. and one which reaches the very
essence OF the irritating conditions that now attend
some Of the operators do not hesitate to say
and d PeSGn by 'a Of the @ union no
great progress will be made toward a more pc'c'--
full condition in the mining regions u4II Jhe an
autonomy individualized and not complicated with
that of the bltqmlI9us coal lh!.ers ,i ms I;s
is made when discussing tn. question 'i u'S-
~ i1,Ir,i,n1,S roaI miners undertook to organize
the anthracite miners and that if the anthracite
coal miners had union or thslr "H, willon i'Si. i
miners they Uhc operators would be in better
ployes through their orSanl%tti@h than now. "hen
they obliged TO deal with what they term
The bearing OF the operators position on this
subject taken in relation to The whole question Of
Consideration on the part of all. a very well known
railroad president although not coal operating
in the anthracite mining business IS Tor an en-,
tireiy different type from those now engaged
In it If an anthracite Goa! miners union c9uid be
industry the whole matter would be far on the way
fairly satisfactory adjustment -
tinctIy that they had any antagoniSm to labor
unions as such The do object and m most SeTl-
unions, and they feel that when asked to make
contracts with the unions the latter snolId pun
theme n
SpOnSble carrying out such contracts
LACK OF CONFIDENCE ON BOTH SIDES
Mr.. Wright concludes his report follows:
Much evidence has been offered to show the
general condition of miners their complaints and
grievances. and the complaints ana grievances or
the opera is very clearly SHOWN by the ev-
dence that the miners have done something in the
way of securing discipline, althougn they i!Syt
miners claim that they have forced their members
to accept discharge whenever they We're wrong,
and have ordered men back to work when the
st,e was not authorized by the labor union; that
when the officers of the union nave been able I"
sea trs manager of company concerning
case and have been allowed to confer, they have
almost invariably been able 10 arrive at an ad- !
j,etroert of the difficulty: but that where the man
- +aaI u,itb the renresentatiye NJ
the union there no Cholce put 70 pass upon
the matter according TO the evidence OF one one SIDE
the officers being obliged to decide in favor Of the
men who have preferred a wish not 10 Work under |
existing conditions.
This it is claimed. Injuries the corporations be |
cause the results have not been based upon fun |
when they refuse recognize the right of the |
unions represent the mer IN adjusting any dil.
Ia decide whether the employees shall strike |
Thev also stated that Il the operators will make
as in their power 70 do so but mat without
an agreement they all the time quibbllng to
feel that an agreement in writing will protect the |
corporations from unjust strikes II they really de-