Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-02
COAL STRIKE UNP TRES
WILL ADJOURN AFTER NEXT
THURSDAY UNTIL NOV. 18th.
TESTIMONY WILL THEN BEGIN.
The Miners VIII Submit Their Case
First-Thc Individual Operators
VIII Each BE Heard in Reply
Members Were Compelled to Garry
Safety Lamps.
THURSDAY UNTIL NOV. 18th.
TESTIMONY WILL THEN BEGIN
The Miners VIII Submit Their Case
First-Thc Individual Operators
Will Each
Safety Lamps,

SCRANTON. PA. November 1.-The ar
btration commission which is engaged ir
settling the differences existing between
the anthracite coal operators and the
mine-workers. decided to-day while on
their tour of the ). yoming Valley to adj
journ next Thursday until Friday,
November 18th, when the taking of testi-
mony will begin in this city. The first
four days Of next week. Will be taken
up in inspecting the mines and mining
towns from Hazleton south to the end o.
the hard coal fields, All OF this territory
is in districts No : and 9, Of he United
the jurisdiction of President Thomas
Duffy, and John Fahy. of the union. whit.
will accompany the commission. Chair
man Gray said that the object in taking
recess OF one week was for the pur
pose of giving both sides sufficient time
to prepare their cases. and also to give
the memb2 Frs Of the commission an oppor-
tunity to examine the issues. 1t is the
Intention to have the miners, who are
considered the plaintiffs submit their
case first. The sXty-seven individual
operators will be given an opportunity to
be heard. Is we'll as all the larger coal
companies.
The miners will take up considera BILE
time in presenting their side OF the case
The question of making a preliminary
report on some of the issues involved.
such as the increase OF wages. shorter
worh-day, an the weighing of coal al the
mouth of the mines. has not yet beer
officially taken up by the commission. an6
it is not definitely known tonight tina:
it will be considered by the commission
ers.
SPENT DAY AT WILIIESBARRE.
The arbitrators spent the entire day If.
and about the city of Wikesbarre visit
ing one mine and making a tour of severa,
Of the towns on the outskirts of the city
The commissions special train left here
$50 y. NJ, and reached the Dorrance
colliery of the Lehigh Valley Company at
North Wilkesbarre an hour later. Near!
two hours were spent in the mine abou:
$50 feet below the surface. The mine is
a very gaseous one. and the commission
ers and other members Of their part!
were compelled to carry safety lamps
They were told the mine was dangerous
but their eagerness for information as to
the physical features Of the various
mines was so great that the unsafe con1!
ton of the workings did not deter then,
from entering.
To-day was All Saints Day. and it is
religiOusly observed by many Of the for
eign-speaking mine-workers. For this
reason no coal was mined in the Dorrance
and many other colieres throughout the
region The company officials drew tn,
attention OF the commissioners to this
enforced curtailment in the production OF
coal
After the commission took luncheon or
the special train. the party took a trolley
car and visited South Wilkesbarre, Ash
ley, Sugar Notch, and Plymouth inhab-
i.cd principally b. nlIe-workers. TIL.
did not leave the car. bur
wherever it stopped a crowd would gath
er which gave them an opportunity to
ask questions regarding rents and other
living expenses.
President Mitchell probably will make
his statement OF the denla nds Of the min
ers to the commission on Monday and the
operators will make reply in about tire.
or four days.