The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-01
. AVOID DISPUTE
iPORTANT RULING BY ANTHRA-
CITE STRIKE COMMISSION.
Any Award Affecting Existing Rates
of Wages he Made the Award Is
to Take Eject Nov. L.
MOTHER STRENUOUS DAY
oNMIssIoNERs UNDER GROUND FOR
TWO hours AND A HALF.
trnmped Continuously I'm n STOPPING
Position I'm One of the Worst
Mines Near Scranton.
WITH GRIMY DIGGERS
kND LEARNED MUCH CONCERNING
HARDsHIPs AND DANGERS.
Judge Grny's Back Unable to Stand
the strnin-Homes of the Mine
workers Viewed.
frnmped Continuously I'm n STOPPING
Position I'm One OF the Worst
Mines Near Scranton.
TALKED WITH GRIMY DIGGERS
&ND LEARNED MUCH CONCERNING
HARDsHIPs AND DANGERS.
Judge Grny's Back Unable to Stand
the Strnfn-Homes of the Mine
workers Viewed.

SCRANTON, Pa, Oct. 31.-The first i'm
portant action by the anthracite coal strike
commission. which is arbitrating the diff
ferences existing between the miners and
their employers. was taken to-day, when 1t
was announced by Carroll d. Wright, the
recorder OF the commission, that If any
award affecting the existing rate of wages
shall be made the award shall be effective
from Nov. l. The action of the commits
sioners shuts off any possible controversy
that either side may have desired to raise.
|f'he announcement Of the commission was
contained in the following brief resolutions:
Voted. unanimously. that if the commits
sion, at the conclusion of it's hearings and
deliberations, make any award affecting
xisting rates of wages, such award shall
Ike effect from Nov. J. 1902"
accompanying the resolution was brief
htement made by Recorder Wright, in
hich he says: 1.-The resolution was
1opted by the commission because 1t felt
at 1t was important 70 make its investi-
tions deliberately, and that 1t might be
: in order to relieve itself from pressure
pm any source which might cause undue
ste, to inform the operators and the
ncFS
deliberations following it warrant any
ange whatever. either in the way of
crease of reduction of wages, such change
puld be from a certain date, thus en-
hing all parties TO facilitate their calcu-
kns,,' s..-----.4s-
he commissioners spent the entire day
continuing their inspection of the mines
Id the mining region about Scranton.
hey visited the Manville colliery. operated
bintly by the Delaware & Hudson and
he Delaware, Lackawanna & Western
Companies. in the forenoon, and the after
noon was spent in riding through the
eg1on on a special trolley car. The COM
of Wilkesbarre, returning here in the even
ling.
MAY BE PRELIMINARY REPORT.
1t IL possible that the commission may
make a preliminary report three prin-
cipal strike questions. They are the in
crease in wages. a shorter work day and
the weighing of coal. After these have
been decided the commission can take up
all other questions without undue haste.
lit Is known the commissioners have this
Feature under consideration, and 1t is very
likely a preliminary report will be made.
The commissioners were under ground
Lo-day for two hours and a half The
barty consisted of thirteen persons and in
rluded six commissioners, the two assist
Int recorders, General Superintendent
Rose, of the Delaware & Hudson Com
hany, General Superintendent Phillips, of
he Delaware, Lackawanna & Western,
District President Nichols, of the miners
MON, a miner employed in the Manville
blliery and one newspaper correspondent,
no represented the other news gatherers.
The party which visited the Forest City
hines yesterday was too large and for this
eason the number OF persons permitted
the mine at one time was cut down.
ecorder Wright did not accompany the
hrty. owing 10 a pressure of work in con-
Etion with the investigation.
The arbitrators inspected practically the
tire underground workings. and as on
sterday, found much 10 interest them.
hey asked numerous questions of all men
ey encountered in the gangways or cham
MIXTURE of the trip. The Manville is said
be one of the worst mines in this region
the miners to work. The veins of coal
not more than three feet thick and the
ner has more difficult time i'm getting
be coal out than where the seam is thick
3. The commissioners walked several
hiles through the gangways and owing to
ae exceedingly low roof they had to do
cir tramptng almost continually in a
ooping position. After the arbitrators
been in the workings an hour Judge
|ay decided his back ached enough and
came to the surface, accompanied by
shop Spalding. Altogether the commits
ners inspected three chambers where
ners were at work at the face of the
casts blasting coal.
GR1MY DIGGERS TALK.
he first breast visited was 1000 feet
bm the foot of the shaft. There the in
stigators found miner and his helper at
prk. General Wilson and Messrs Clark
d Parker crawled into the three-foot
rizontal opening between the rock out of
hich the coal was being taken. The COM
issicners presented a novel picture as
ley sat around with flaming lamps in
|eir hands listening 10 the grimy digger
wing his testimony. The miner was asked
bw much he made day. how many cars
coal he was able TO get out how many
ours he worked. what he paid his helper
pw much he made per month before. the
rike and numerous other questions that
light give the commissioners some idea
how to proceed. General Wilson was
e chief inquisitor and was ably assisted
his colleagues. The representatives OF
operators and also the two represent
the miners interjected questions to
ng out points favorable 10 their respec-
e sides. The miners representatives,
the company officials often differed I'm
Pir statements for the benefit of the
nmissioners
he visitors were then taken 1000 feet in
pther direction TO where miner was
riing In an accumulation of water This
ner was questioned principally regarding
water. He told of how he takes IL out
cry morning before doing any mining
also told the commissioners what COM
nsation he received for doing IL He
led attention 10 the loose rock over
ad which made bad roofing IL often fall
and compelling him 10 spend consider
le time in improving conditions about
breast. In reply to a question as TO
much he got for removing the rock he
We take IL out for the good Of our
the commissioners. superintaoa-
I'd the miners nsn6ssat ~ ses/ -
perabIe ~