The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-18
THE INDEPENDENT OPERATORS
They Make Their decentralization
OF RECOGNITION of the Union.

Scranton, Pa, Dec. 1S.-Before the coal
commission late yesterday Mr.. barrow
for the miners called attention to the dec
laration in the operators statement that
! recognition of the union is not an issue
before the commission, and said if the
comissiOn should sustain that claim,
then the operators should have no right
to present witnesses to. show that the Vio-
lence committed during the strike was
instigated by the union.
James Torrey of the Delaware & Hud-
son made. the point that the miners oc-
cupied most, of the time trying to show
that the union was not responsible for it
and that it would be unfair for the COM
mission to deny the right of the operators
to combat that testimony.
H. Burns, one of the attorneys for the
| independent operators, presented the
| opening statement Of the individual COM
panies The following is an abstract:
The object of the organiza ton Of this
commission is probably without any
| on the common or statute law. but has
| for it's foundation only the agreement of
| the operators and workmen. It has no
power to enforce it's judgments. and it's
| findings must necessarily be largely adj
visory.
"Under such circumstances, it will easily
| be seen that the most careful investiga-
ton as to the facts and the clearest judg-
ment as to the justice and right are neces-
4 sary, III order" to give sa tisfaction to the
1 Immediate parties. as well as to- the gen.
eral public" who arc deeply interested in
| the ultimate result
/ ~'It seems to us that the questions. so
i far as they. concern the individual oper-
ators3 represented by us, may be CON
! sidered under three general heads-first
| wages; second. hours of labor; third, non
union men and discrimination. 49, ~ s.
! "As to wages it may be well to refer to
the terms as sta ted by the coal operators
in their suggestion of the appointment. OF
| this commission, as follows: s
We suggest commission to be appointed by
:the president of the United States, if he is will
ing to perform that service, to whom shall be re
! fnrred all questions at issue between the respec
tive companies and their employees, whethe,
they belong to union not and the decision
Of that commission shall be accepted by u.s.
! We not discriminating against the United
1 Mine Workers. but insist that the miners unior
shall not discriminate against refuse to wori
| with non union men: that there shall be no de
| tcrioration. in quantity quality of work, ant
| that, owing to the varying physical condition.
Of the anthracite mines, each colliery is a prob
1 lem by itself. .'
| "''It will be noticed that the questions
at issue are not between the operators as
a body, and the workmen as another body
but are between the respective companies
and their own employees.
| I'VE claim LnaC accOfQlnS to the terms
| of the submission any question as h
wages should be settled by an examination
/ of the complaints and conditions at each
separate colliery, and, that the only issues
involved are those between the operator
Of each mine and the men actually in hi.
employ =, '-... .. !:
! Again. we think the commission, be
fore taking any action looking to al
increase of wages, should carefully con
| slider upon whom such increases must fall
/ OF course, any increase in cost Of produc
ton ultimately rests upon the consumer
There is nc authority to tax one class o
tho poor in order to contribute to the com
! fort Of another r., =
-"As we understand it, one of the chic