Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-12-04
ANOTHER ADJouRHMmE
Coal Strike Committee Appoints Sub-COn-
maEtee ON Concentration.

Scranton, Pa.-The anthracite coal
strike commission has adjourned to
meet December 3, and it is the hope
and expectation Of all parties to the
controversy that when the arbitrators
again meet an agreement of points in
dispute will be ready for submission for
approval of the commission.
Attorneys on both sides express the
opinion that an amicable adjustment
will be reached, and predict that the
commission will make only one more
trip to this city.
The commissioners want it under
stood that they have the last say in the
adjustment of the differences; that they
will carry the full responsibility TOR
whatever award, if any, they may
make, and that whatever is agreed up
on must have their full approval before
the agreement can be put in operation.
A subcommittee, which is made up of
Commissioners Watkins, Parker aud
Clark, was named to act as a board of
Cancellation. This committee Saturday
afternoon called into conference as
many OF the attorneys representing the
parties before the commission as could
be gathered on short notice, and stated
to them the attitude Of the commits
sion.
After the meeting a statement was
given out, in order that the general
public may know the position of the
arbitrator regarding the new turn or
affairs.
This statement follows:
1T appears that there is some misun-
Outstanding or some lack of under
standing in connection with the recess
taken by the commission and the SIG
gestion in that connection that possibly
the contestants might be able to agree
upon some of the important points in
VolVed.
''The recess was desired by counsel
for both sides because authoritive
statements of hours and wages which
are being prepared are not as yet
ready. The suggestion was made that
perhaps some agreement might be
reached between the principals which
would simplify the problem and assist
in reaching proper conclusions. The
chairman, speaking for the commits
sion, stated that the commission would
gladly cooperate as far as could be
consistently done in furthering an
effort to reach an understanding
through conciliatory means and meth
DDS.
1.-The idea has gone out in some quar-
tiers that the matter is to be settled
without further effort or responsibility
on the part of the commission. This
idea is entirely wrong. The commits
sion will, as announced, cheerfully en-
courage a conciliatory spirit and ac-
ton between the parties to the con-
troVersy, but the commission has not
surrendered, and will not surrender,
jurisdiction of any of the matters which
h - =
bility for the conclusion reached. No
adjustment can be made which does
not, by it's terms, commend itself
strongly enough to secure the approval
of the commission and it's incorpora-
ton in the award.
with view and for the purpose of
removing any misunderstanding which
might exist, the subcommittee of the
commission invited such of the counsel
representing the several interests in
VolVed as could be reached to meet at
the meeting
The individual operators, between
thirty and forty of whom are represent
ed before the commission, are disposed
to object to the way matters have been
progressing. Mr.. Burns, one of their
attorneys, brought the matter before
the commission and said the Individual
operators wanted to be consulted in
whatever agreements regarding the
proceedings before the commission may
be made. In all that has so far taken
place, he said, the Independent oper-
ators had not been consulted, although
they had no objection to the en-day
adjournment.
The independent operators say they
would rather have the whole matter
threshed out before the commission
than have a private settlement of the
difficulties. One of them said: There
is more than a question of wages and
hours involved in the fight. We are
right and we want to have the oppor-
tunity of showing the American people
we are right. If an increase of wages
and shorter work day are agreed up
on in private, the public will have the
impression that we were wrong. We
want to show in open meeting who is
right and who were responsible for the
reign of terror that has been in exist
ence in this region during the last six
months
The rough basis on which the parties
in interest will work is per cent IN
crease, a nine-hour day and yearly
agreements between the men and the
company which employs them Tenta-
tive proposals have been informally
made by both sides, and it is statet
that there is very little difference be
tween them. The matter of yearly
agreements with the men, and not with
the United Mine Workers, as an organ
iZation, will possibly be left to the
commission to arbitrate.