The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-10-25
'COAL.STRIKE ARBITRATION
FIRST MEETING OF THE PRESI-
 DENTS COMMISSION.

DENTS SCOMMISSIOA'
 Brief Instructions Given to the Mem-
 bers by President Roosevelt Yester-
 day Morning tn Washington-TOId to
 Tryto Effect Permanent Settlement
 -OrganiZatiOu for Work.
 Washington, Oct 24.-The members of the strike arbitration commission ap- pointed by President Roosevelt, met at the presidents house soon after 10 o'clock this morning and went into con- ference with the president. E. E. Clark, president of the Order of Railway Con- ductors. was the first member of the commission to arrive. He reached the presidents house exactly at 10 o'clock. Bishop Spalding, accompanied by pr. D. J. Stafford of this city, was the next to put in an appearance. General Will son, who arrived a moment later, was followed by Thomas H. Watkins and Colonel Wright, the recorder of the commission. Then came E. w. Parker, the mining expert. Judge Gray of the United States circuit court was the last member to reach the residence. With his arrival the commission was com- plete. Several of the members had never before met. The introductions were made in Secretary Cortelyou's of flee, and immediately thereafter the commission ascended the stairs to the presidents reception room.
 President Roosevelt greeted the mem bers of the commission cordially. The interview was brief, lasting hardly twenty minutes. The work to be done by the commission was informally dis cussed. The president impressed upon the members the importance of eXpedl- tion, and informed them that he had decided to appoint two assistants to the recorder to facilitate the work. He then presented to them their instruc- tions as follows:
 White House, Washington, Oct. B. 1902. To the Anthracite Coal Strike Commission:
 Gentlemen: At the request both of the op.- orators and of the miners l have appointed you commission to inquire into, consider, and pass upon the questions in controversy in connection with the strike in the anthra- cite region, and the causes out of which the controversy arose. By the action you rec Ommend which the parties in interest have in advance consented to abide by,~ you will endeavor to establish the relations between the employers and the wage-workers in the anthracite fields on just and permanent basis, and, so far as possible, to do away with any causes for the recurrence of such difficulties as those which you have been called in to settle. I submit to you here with the published statement of the opera tors. following which l named you as the members of the commission, Mr. Wright being named as recorder; also the letter from Mir. Mitchell; I appointed MT. Nose ly and Mir. Neil! as assistants to the re- recorder. ..,ss. -...--. -.
 'S THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
 With the instructions were the state ments of the operators. The members of the commission withdrew in a body. When they left the white house they declined to comment upon their inter- view. They went direct to the office of Commissioner of Labor Wright to or ganize and prepare for their work.
 The commission went into executive session at Colonel Wright's office at il o'clock. Judge Gray was chosen chair man, The presiding officer is to be off, cially called the president of the com mission.
 The commission, in executive session, considered the details of the subject which confront them at tEe beginning of their duties Among these were questions pertaining to the place of meeting, the order in which witnesses shall be called, whether the sessions shall be open to the press, whether counsel for the parties at interest shall be permitted to be present. etc.
 Tn commission adjourned at 12:45 o'clock to meet again next Monday at 2 o'clock p. m. After the adjournment, two conclusions had been reached. The first of these was to admit the public at all formal meetings Of the commits sion. and the second to notify the par ties to the controversy to be present at the meeting on Monday for the purpose of arranging time for hearings which will be convenient for all concerned. Notices were accordingly sent to the mine operators and to MT. Mitchell, pr6SlU6nl Ul lIlG UlllJSO h1llG w UIhtIS, asking them to he in attendance on Monday Most of the time of to- day S meeting was taken up with discus sion of the question as to the time when hearings shall be held, the result of which was the conclusion to call in the people interested before reaching a decision.
 The commission has already adopted an official name, and has had it's print ing prepared, designating it as the An thracite Coal-Strike Commission.
 Edward A Mosely, who becomes an assistant to Recorder Wright by direc- ton of the president, is secretary of the interstate commerce commission. Dr, Niell, the other assistant recorder, is professor of political economy at the Catholic university, located near Wash ington.
 The commission was invited to take luncheon with the president at 1:3O D. n.