The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-10-16
THE END SEEMS NEAR
Operators Agree to Submit to
Arbitration.
]. P. MORGAN MEETS THE PRESIDENT
A Committee of Five to he hppoiut-
cd hN the President. Who Shnu
Have Power to Adjust All
Differences.

WASHINGTON. oct. i4.-The opera.
tors have agreed to the appointment Of
II commission to he appointed 10y the
president Of the United States to whom
shall be referred all questions at issue
between the companies and their own
employees whether they belong to
union or not, and the decision OF the
commission shall be accepted by the
operators,
The commission is TO consist of an
army or navy engineer officer, an eX-
pert mining engineer not connected
with the coal mining properties. one Of
the judges Of the United states court
Tor the eastern district Of penuSylva-
mia, man Of prominence eminent as
sociologiSt and a man who by active
participation I'm mining and IN selling
coal is familiar with the practical
physical ami commercial features Of
the business.
The operators also make it part Of
their proposition that the miners shall
return TO work IS soon us the commits.
sion is constituted and cease all inter
ference with uouuuiou men. The COM
mission TO name date when its find.
ingS shall be effective and 10 govern
conditions Of employment between the
companies and their own employees
for at least three wears.
In the course Of their statement the
operators say:
THE coal companies believe that the
wages paid in the coal regions are fair
and full and all that the business in its
normal condition has been able to
stand II the capital invested IS To have
reasonable return. The profits have
been small. Several of the companies
have become bankrupt and been reor-
gauizeG several times. several have
never paid dividends and the diyl-
dends of the others have been Il small
return Tor the capital invested.
1t is not. however the purpose OF
this statement TO discuss this question.
The undersigned are not and never
have been unwilling 90 submit all qucs-
tlon> between them and their workmen
10 any fair tribunal for decision. They
are not willing 10 enter into arbitration
with the mine workers union. an or
Eanization chiefly composed OF men In
3 rival and competitive interest. and
they are not willing 10 make any ar
rau-ement which VIII not secure 10
men now working and all ROW or here
after wishing 10 work. whether they
belong 10 the mine workers union or
not. the right and opportunity 10 work
in safety and without personal insult
or bodily harm 10 themselves or their
families For these reasons the arbi-
trat!ouS heretofore proposed have been
declined"
The statement was submitted tO the
president by J. Pierpont Morgan in the
course Of conference held ~ the tenn
poCary White House. Mr.. Morgan. ac-
coDpsnied by Robert BacOn. one Of his
business partners. arrived here last
night about 10 o'clock and proceeded
directly 10 the Arlington hotel where
they Were met by Secretary Root, who
evidently was expecting them. These
gentlemen soon after walked over "a
the White House and were Immediate
ly admitted 10 the presidents room,
where they We're almost Immediately
Joined by the president.
No one was present NJ the conference
thSt followed except the gentlemen
named and Secretary Cortelyou.