Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-22
OO10y66 y
COAL STRIKE COMMISSIONS occU-
PATTON MAY soon BE
GONE.
PARTIES GETTING TOGETHER.
Compromise Proposition for Settle
ment Of differences.
THE BASIS OF NEGOTIATIONS.
Ten per Cent. Increase in Wages,
Ninc-Hour Day, and Trade
Agreements Between Miners aud
Companies by Whom They Arc
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. May Ad-
Journ for Week or Ten Days.

! journ for Week or Ten Days.
SCRANTON, PA, November a-The
mine-workers, through their represen-
| tatives, have agreed with the mine-own-
| ers to attempt to adjust the differences
existing between them outside the An
thracite Coal Strike Commission. The
proposition was made on @ compromise
basis, and negotiations, 1t is said, viii
be at once entered upon with reason
Of the arbitrators-
! The rough proposition which is to form
the basis of negotiations, is a 10 per cent.
increase in wages, a 9-hour day, ana
| trade agreements between the miners
and the companies by whom they are
| employed. The only one OF the tour
demands not touched upon Is that>of the
Weighing of Goa, by the legal ton. While
| both sides have expressed willingness
! to settle their differences among them
! selves. it is not to be construed that it
! carries with it the acceptance of the
| terms proposed. They are mentioned
u ]
! which a settlement is to be effected. 1t
is possible that the foundation already
laid can be wrecked by either party's
holding out too strongly against some
question, and thus the whole matter be
| left in the hands of the commissioners.
who in the meantime, will act as
sort of board of concilia ton, rather than
as board of arbitration.
The Move Surprise.
Few persons were aware that an at
tempt would be made for an outside set
tlement, until it was practically SO IN.
timated by Judge Gray, the chairman OF
the commission, who read carefully
prepared announcement from the
'bench.'' The move-one OF the most
! important in the whole history of the
coal strilSe-created mild sensation
when 1t became known. The surprise
was all the greater when 1t was remem-
bered that numerous persons, from the
President of the United States down.
and many organizations. from the Ma
tIonal Civic Federation to the small
boards of trade OF the mining towns.
| failed to bring the two parties together.
It is said it was all brought about by
| both sides seeing that the proceedings
before the commission would be inter-
miEable. and that in the intern1inglng
of ,the lawyers for both sides. the OUT
side agreement proposition was broached.
ard taken up.
1t cannot be officially stated which
party ma Ga the proposition first. The
attorneys for both sides are averse to
talking. but those who were inclined TO
say something differed In their state
ments. The president IT one of the rail-
ways said the overture came from the
miners. one OF the lawyers said it came
from the opera tors. another reprAeenta-
tive ct the operators said that it was q
spontaneous proposition.
Operators Made Overture.
1t is generally believed, however, that
the operators mace the proposition.
Wayne McVeagh. who carried on such a
brilliant cross-eXamination of President
Mitchell is given credit for bringing
about the present s;tua ton. He went to
New York after he had finished with
Mr.. Mitchell. and had a conference with
certain persons connected with the coal
industry. among them 1t is reported T.
Pierpont Morgan. He was in New York
to-day in connection with the matter.
The commissioners were informed OF
the new turn of affairs last night ard
acquiesced in the proposed arrangement.
The subject did not directly come up in
the public hearing to-day. and the ad-
iournment proposition was made osten-
sibly to permit both sides to complete
their work of preparing documentary
cago. one Of Mr.. NIitchelTs attorneys.
brought the matter out. when. near the
close OF to-day's session. he suggested
that the miners be given little more
time to prepare their evidence The
miners wanted to present the due bills
ard wage statements of thousands of ]
miners. running back for several years,
and they found that the task of present
ing them in nrcper manner was a stu
pendous one. They also wanted to care
fully examine the corpany's books and
this, too. would take consi7erab:. time.
Commission Glad to Cooperate.
While Mr.. Darrow was saying this the
commissioners were all attention. and no
one outside of them and a few representa-
tives on each side OF the case knew what
was coming. Judge Grey. in reply to
Mr.. Darrow, said that the commission
would be very glad to cooperate in bring
ing about the accomplishment of that
end.
We have been aware for some time"
he said, that while the testimony that
has been adduced has been very interest
ing. and will not say that it has no.
been of value. still it has not yet borne
directly upon the points at issue between
the parties to this controversy
After delivering this. the chairman read
the announcement which had been pre-
pared by the commission in advance. It
was as follows:
Formal Announcement.
"Acceding to the suggestion just made
by counsel that an interval OF time be
taken for the preparation of the documen-
tary evidence. and for possible agree
ment as to certain facts and figures which
would forward the work OF the commits
sion, the commission desires to express the
hope that an effort will be made by the
parties to come to an agreement upon
OF CT