The daily Republican., 1902-10-28

profit sharing PLAN" he said "wnlcn
to our employees" i
Mr.. Thomas Of the Hillside Iron and
Coal and the Pennsylvania Coal COM
pahy said he noticed that the word
arbitration" had been applied to the
commissions work. while he wanted it
considered as IN investigations
Judge Gray said the presidents in
struction settled that as an arbitration.
Mr.. Thomas also urged that the con-
ditiGns in each Of the mining compa-
MES were different and could only be
considered separately. He thought
more progress could be made by
physical examination of the coal re-
Slon. He thought that as many of the
interests involved in the controversy
were represented in New York some OF
the hearings should be held in that
city.
Tho suggestion that both sides ap-
| point experts to examine the books Of
| the companies was made by Judge
Gray, the chairman of the commission.
He said it would be a good plan for
the opposing interests in the case to
agree that tabulated statements rela.
tive to existing rates Of wages in diff
fcrent localities Of the mining region -
be taken from the books of the oper-
ators by two expert accountants, one
to be named by each party, such ac-
countants to be employees of the COM
mission. Mr.. Baer, after expressing
his diSincliHaton to accept this sug-
gestion. said that his company would
submit their pay rolls under cath of
their accountant. He said they now
had seventy clerks who are working
day and night in compiling data for the
commission.
After considerable controversy be-
tween the members CT the commission
and the miners and mine representa-
tives Judge Gray modified his sugges-
tion, this time presenting it in the
shape of proposition that only one
expert accountant be appointed. who
both sides to the controversy and veri-
fly the facts for the consideration Of
the commission. Mr.. Baer promptly
accepted this suggestion, and Mr..
Mitchell followed suit after brief ex-
planation on his part He said that the
plan was not entirely in accord with
the wishes of the miners, who are anX-
ious to avoid all controversy as to the
Interpretation Of figures. President
Gray then announced that the COM
mission for the present would proceed
without appointing an expert, but that
1t would require that statements should
be prepared, and then, he added, an
could be secured in case it
was found his services were needed
After consulting the members Of the
President Gray announced
that it would begin its inspection next
Thursday, commencing its work in Dis
rict No. I, in which the city Of Scran-
ton is located,
The public meeting Of the commits
sion then came to close. and the COM
missioners retired for the purpose of
private consultation. They first took
lp the question which had been raised
" the protfcr of Il special train by Mr..
Baer and unanimously decided not to
lccept the train The exchange OF
Jews which followed brought out the
act that the commissioners expect per-
'Onally to pay all of their expenses,
accepting 10 favnrs and relying on the.
government to reimburse them if 50
disposed
Official st"nographcrs to report the
Of the commission and al
o to act rs secretaries for members OF
he commission were appointed,