New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-02
MUCH PLEASED WITH PLAN
COMMISSIONERS SAY VISITS TO MINES
WILL BE OF GREAT SERVICE.
-FOUR DAYS MORE OF THE WORK TO BE
ASKED TO ARBITRATE A GREW
ANcE TOMORROW.
ANCE TOMORROW
tBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.


Wlkesbarre Penn. Nov. lin three days the
Strike Arbitration Commissioners have visited
three mines in widely separated parts Of the
upper coal field and have obtained working
knowledge Of the conditions under which the
miners work the basis OF their chief grievances,
and the method of mining coal under various
conditions. They have visited the veins which
arc the smallest in thu region. and others which
are among the largest. They have been in wet
and dry mines and mines which are free from
gas and those fun Of it. They have seen the
niue villages, the miners children and the
miners home. and they have a knowledge OF the
general conditions which viii enable them to
treat intelligently the questions which are 10
come before them
The commissioners say that the plan of going
20 the mines and seeing and learning the actual
conditions has been of great service to them.
Had it not been for this they would not be able
q understand the questions which are to be
discussed. In each mine they have entered the
commissioners have been eager TO ask questions
ana though they have not always received clear
answers. there have been the mine workers and
the officials on hand TO aid in explaining. The
mine workers, as a whole. seem very we'll salts
fed with the method OF examination. The oper-
ators. also. are satisfied.
The commission viii leave Scranton on Mon
n.
ing the first four days of the week in the mid
die, western and southern districts, and finish
ing tAeir examination of the physical conditions
on Thursday night They will then adjourn for
3 week for a rest. They Will reconvene in
Scranton on November ] /. and begin the hearing
OF testimony How long they will sit in Scran-
ton they cannot tell but they viii hear the mine
workers and probably what individual opera
tors desire 10 be heard.
Another session for the hearing Of evidence
will probably be held at Pottsville. where the
mine workers of the lower end Of the region.
who work under different conditions from those
here. will be heard. The sittings for the hearing
of the large operators will be in Philadelphia
and New-York, unless the operators want them
elsewhere
AS three fourths Of the mine workers cee-
brated All Saints Day to-day by remaining
away from work the efforts Of the commission
10 get new material were much hindered The
commissioners went first TO the Prospect col
hery of the Lehigh Valley Company. in this
city. There were only few men at work but
the commissioners decided to go down. however
Safety lamps, lighted and locked on the surface.
were given TO each member Of the party. These
could not be relighted or the flame exposed until
brought TO the surface AID unlocked. The party
then descended TO the G0O-fOot vein. the Balti-
more. where Judge Gray found to his pleasure
that he could stand upright. The party walked
shout mile inspecting the various workings
Part OF the way they We're under the bed OF the
Susquehanna River
After luncheon the commissioners went on
trolley ride to the Ashley, Sugar Notch and
Plymouth workings and saw the company
houses and the homes owned by the miners,
They did not enter any miners house. declaring
that they would not unless asked At - O'Clock
the commissioners started for Scranton their
special car, and Will spend tomorrow there
Bishop Spalding will preach in ST. Petr's
Cathedral but he will not talk about the labor
troubles or anything pertaining to them.
When the commissioners reach HaZleton on
Monday they viii be called by a committee
and asked to make immediate ruling in the
case Of the No. 10 Hazlefon Colliery, of the Lee
high Valley Coal Company. where there is much
complaint because there are sixty of the
former workers who have not vet been rein
stated. The local decided to-day not 70 order
strike until the trouble was laid before the com
what to do regarding this, but will probably
hear the evidence and then reserve its finding.
To-day the Kingston Coal Company employees,
two thousand in number threatened TO go on
strike on Monday unless two check weighmen
who were employed by the miners and were this
morning discharged. by the company, were rein
stated. The miners say that the weighmeE
Were here in the interest # the workers, and
that unless they get their places back again the
union men viii go on strike committee WALL
ed the company tonight and presented hS
ultnatum.
The grand Jury Of this county completed its
weeks returns There We're thirty cases OF
riot and strike violence in which strikers were
defendants. Each one was ignored. There were
six cases Of coal and iron policemen charged
with carrying concealed weapons true bill
Nas found i'm each case. The operators. seeing
how things were going. withdrew a number of
cases early in the week. and will not present
them until the next grand jury meets.