The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-10-28

Washington. Oct. 1.-THE anthracite coal
| strike commission to-day. IN the hearing
room OF the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion held its first conference with the par
ties TO the controversy IN the anthracite
regions.
TO EXAMINE MINES.
The commission decided 10 begin its work
next Thursday morning at o'clock. the
first day OF the investigation to be devoted
TO a physical examination Of the mines and
the homes Of the miners, starting In the vi
cinity OF Scranton. The entire anthracite
neId viii be covered
There was considerable discussion over .
proposition made by the commission, 10
have expert accountants appointed 70 audit
the statements OF wages and classification
Of miners to be made by the operators for
the use Of tho commission. but no result
was reached on this point beyond the an
nouncement by the chairman OF the com
missions intention TO appoint such an ae-
countant In case bis services should be
found necessary.
During the progress Of the meeting. Ar.
Mitchell. as the representative Of the
miners. presented = copy OF the original
declaration or the miners. as formulated
by the shamoidn convention. as the basis
OF the demands OF the nluleEb-
DEMANDS OF UNION MINERS.
This demand IS. nrst. for an increase OF
% per cent in wages. OF those not engaged
BY the day: second. = reduction Of 20 per
cent In working hours OF those engaged by
the day; third. the payment fer coal mined
by weight al a minimum rate OF 60 cents
per ton OF 2.24o pounds; fourth. a wage
agreement between the operators and the
Miners for an adjustment OF wages.
DIRECTED TO MITCHELL.
Mr.. Baer, on the part OF the coal oper1-
tors, took exception 10 Mr. Mitchelis ap-
pearancs before the commission as = rep
resentative OF the mine workers union. but
said that he had no objection to his pres
ence as a representative OF the strikers. as
such. in their Individual capacity. The
commission made no attempt to settle the
controversy. but It was made apparent that
the recognition Of the miners union viii be
an important and knotty problem for the
erbirators.
Mr. Mitchell replied that the objections
raised as 10 his status were not involved
IN the case. He said that he appeared as
a representative of the anthracite coal
miners. and distinctly refralned In his reply
from mentioning toe union
Preceding the discussion over appointing
experts TO audit the books. Mr.. BRer said
the operators would be prepared TO meet
the miners in the region and to assist in
giving all the information Many Of the in
diyidual operators are not represented. snd
they were not consulted. and were not com
promised by the letter he had written
Judge Gray suggested that they could be
At the meeting next Monday
they would determine which OF the COM
panies could be taken up first. and the place
o: meeting could be determined by the loca-
don OF the coal company taken up.
BAER's SOLUTION.
Mr Baer made q point OF saying that the
case OF each coal company would be dealt
with separately. He would contend for the
sliding scale In the regulation OF wages.
u shall urge the adoption OF that profit
sharing plan" he said. which gave Us
peace formerly in our relation to oUr en-
ployes-"
Mr.. Thomas Of the Hillside Iron and Coal
and the Pennsylvania Coal Company, said |
he noticed that he word arbitration" had |
been applied to the commissions work. |
while he wanted It considered an investiga- |
tion-
Judge Gray said that the Presidents m
structions settled that as an arbitration
President wilcox, speaking for his com ]