The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-10-28
RECOGNITION OF UNION
WILL BE STICKING POINT
Anthracite Coal Strike Commission Began Its SEES
sion8 Yesterday and Mapped Out Programme.
me Work Will Begin With Physical Examination Of the Mines,
Which Will Take Some Time

, to avoid the recognition OF the Mine
Workers union as an order. Mr..
Mitchell replied that the objections
raised as 10 his status were not in
volved in the case. He said that he did
appear as a representative Of the an
thraclte coal miners, and distinctly
refrained in his reply from mentioning
the union. Presidents Baer and Thorn
as suggested 10 the commission that
Il Immediately proceed 10 the coal
fields in order that it might be in
formed at the outset as to conditions
there.
Will File an Answer.
IL was agreed that Mr.. Mitchell
should file with the commission next
, Monday a detailed statement Of the
claims of the miners. The statement
he read today was a preliminary state
ment of the case. The representatives
of the operators announced that they
would file an answer to the statement
10 be filed by Mr. Mitchell on Monday
within three DAYS of that time. It
was suggested that each side 10 the
controversy present an expert to 30
through the coal companies books for
the purpose of securing data upon
which 70 work, but President Baer and
other representatives, OF the companies
objected and suggested that they would
mrnish whatever Information was de-
sired.
Preceding the discussion over an
pointing experts 10 audit the books, Mr..
Baer said the operators would be pre-
pared TO meet the miners In the re-
gion and 70 assist In giving all in
formation. Many of the individual
operators are not represented. and they
were not consulted and We're not com
promised by the letter he had writ
ten.
Judge Gray suggested that they could
be represented. At the meeting next
Monday they would determine which
or the companies should be taken up
nrst and the place OF meeting could
be determined by the location Of the
coal company taken up.
Mr.. Baer made a 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.
Profit Sharing Plan.
II shall urge the adoption Of that
profit sharing plan" he said. which
gave rs peace formerly in our rela-
zion to our employees
Mr.. Thomas NJ the Hillsdale Iron &
Coal and Pennsylvania Coal companies
said he noticed that the word "arbi-
tration' had been applied to the com
missions work, while he wanted il
considered an investigation.
Judge Gray said that the presidents
4 instructions settled that as an arbi-
tratiOn.
Mr.. Thomas also urged that the
conditions in each of the mining COM
panies' mines were different and could
only be considered separately. He
thought more progress could be made
by a physical examination of the coal
region. He thought that. as many of
the interests involved In the contro-
versy were represented in New York.
some OF the hearings should be held
in that city.
The. suggestion that both sides an
point experts To examine the books
of the companies was made by Judge
Gray chairman OF the committee. He
said II would be a good plan for the
different interests 10 agree that the
tabluated statements regarding the
existing rates of wages in the differ
ent localities Of the mining region be
taken from the books Of the operators
by two expert accountants. one to be
named by each party. such account
ants to be employees Of the commits
sion.
Mr.. Baer. after expressing his disin-
clination to accept this suggestion.
said that his company would submit
their payrolls under oath OF their ac-
countant. He said they now had sew
enty clerks working day and night
in compiling data for the commission.
President Mitchell said that II would
facilitate the work of the commission
IL Il would accept a general statement
on those issues that affect all the COM
panies and the mine workers alike,
for Instance. the question Of shorter
hours.