The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-11-01
Strike Commission Sets Day on Which Any Deviation in
 Wages VIII Begin
SEVERAL MINES VISITED
 AND QUESTIONS ASKED
One Miner When Asked What He Got for Removing Overhead Rock Said A He Takes 1t Out for the
 Good of the Soul.

Scranton, Pa, October s1.-The first im- portant action by the anthracite coal strike commission, which is arbitrating the differences existing between the min CTS and their employers, was taken today when it was announced by Carroll D. Wright, the recorder of the commisson, that if any award affecting the existing rate of wages shall be made, the award shall be effective from November L The action of the commissioners shuts off any possible controversy that either side may have desired to raise The announce ment of she commission was contained in the following brief resolution:
 Voted, unanimously. that if the com mission at the conclusion of it's hearing and deliberations makes any award af- fecting existing rates of wages, such award shall take effect from November 1, 1902"
 Accompanying the resolution was a brief statement made by Recorder Wright in winch he says:
 1.-The resolution was adopted by the commission, because it felt that it was important to make it's investigations de- liberately, and that it might be well, in order to relieve itself from pressure. from any source which might cause undue haste, to inform the operators and the n'iners that should the investigation and the deliberations following it warrant any change whatever. either in the way of increase or reduction of wages, such change should be from a certain date, thus enabling all parties to facilitate their calcuations''
 Inspection Continued.
 The commissioners spent the entire day In continuing their inspection of the mines and the mining region about Scranton. They visited the Mannville tolliery. operated jointly by the Delaware and Hudson and the Delaware, Lack awanna and Western companies in the forenoon, and the afternoon was spent in riding through the region on a special trolly car. The commission will spend Saturday In the vicinity of Wilkesbarre, returning here in the evening.
 It is possible that the commission may make a preliminary report on three prin- cipal strike questions. They are the in- crease in wages, a shorter work day, and the weighing of coal. After these have been decided the commission can take up all other questions without un- due haste. It is claimed the commission CTS have this feature under considera- ton and 1t Is very likely a preliminary report will be made. The commissioners were under ground today for two hours and a half. The party consisted of thir- teen persons. Recorder Wright did not accompany the party. owing to a pres sure of work with the investigation.
 Found Much of Interest.
 The arbitrators inspected practically the entire underground workings and as on yesterday, found much to interest them. They asked numerous questions of all men they encountered in the gang ways or chambers and did not seem to mind the discontinue of the trip The Mannville Is said to be one of the worst mines in this region for the miners 10 work The veins of coal are not more than three feet thick and the miner has a more difficult task in getting the coal out than where 1t is thicker. The com missioners walked several miles through the gangways and owing to the exceed ingly low roof. they had to do their tramping almost continuously in a stoop- ing position After the aribtrators had been in the workings an hour, Judge Gray decided his back ached enough, and he came to the surface accompanied by Bishop Spalding.
 Altogether the commissioners inspected three chambers, where miners were at work at the face of the breasts blasting coal The first breast visited was 2000 feet from the foot of the shaft There the investigators found a miner and his helper at work. General Wilson and Messrs. Clark and Parke crawled into the three-foot horizontal opening between II. k1.<1 L1s.. taken.
 Present a Novel Picture.
 The commissioners presented a novel picture as they sat around with flaming lamps in their hands listening to grimy diggers give their testimony. The miner was asked how much he made a day how many cars of coal he was able to get out, how many hours he worked, what vhe paid his helper, how much he made ner month before the strike and numer- ous other questions that might give the commissioners some idea how to proceed General Wilson was the chief inquisitor and was ably assisted by his colleagues The representative of the operators and also the two representing the miners interiected questions to bring out points favorable to their respective sides The miners representatives and the company officials often differed in some of their statements made for the benefit of the commissioners.
 The visitors were then taken four thousand feet in another direction to where a minor was working in an ac- cumulation of water. This miner was questioned principally regarding the wa- fer He told of how he takes 1t out every , morning before doing any mining, and also told them what compensation he re- ceived for doing 1t. He called attention to the loose rock overhead which made bad roofing, 1t often falling and compell- ing him to spend considerable time in improving conditions about the breast.