Daily Kennebec journal., 1902-10-28
STRIKE COMMISSION
Continued from page ~

a detailed statement Of the claims of III,
| miners The statement lie read. today
was a preliminary statement Of the case
The representative of the operators an.
| nounced that they would reply to Mr.
! Mitchclfs detailed statement to be filed
Monday. within three days of that time
Ii was suggested that each side to tn,
controversy appoint an expert to <,
THROUGH the books of the coal companies
for the purpose of securing data upor
winch to work. but President 6aer and
other Representatives of the companies
Immediately objected and suggested tha;
they would furnish whatever informal
tion is needed. This question precipitatcd
long discussion in which the coal pres
ident and the miners representatives
took part.
Preceding the discussion over OPEN
ing the books to the experts Mr.. BaeI
said the operators would be prepared
TO meet the commission in the resio,
ard To assist in giving all information
Many of the individual operators are
not represented and they We're not con-
suited and were not compromised by
the letter ne had written.
Judge Gray suggested that they could
De represented.
Air. Bacr made !; 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.
~ shall urge the adoption of that
profit sharing PLAN" he said. (which
gave us peace formerly in our relation
to our employees"
Mr.. Thomas of the Hillside Iron and
Coal Co. and the Pennsylvania Coal
Co.. urged that the conditions in each
of the mining companies We're different
and couid only be considered separate
ly. He thought more progress could be
made by Il physical examination of the
coal region. He thought that as many
of the interests involved in the contro-
vcrsy We're represented in New York.
some of the hearings should be held in
that city.
The suggestion that both sides APP
point c%pcrtS 10 examine the books of
the companies was made by Judge
Gray. He said il would be Il good plan
for the two opposing interests in the
case 10 agree that tabulated state
lnentS relative to existing rates of
wages in different localities of the
mining region be taken from the books
of the operators by two expert ;tc-
one to b. named by each
party. such accountants To be employees
of the commission. Mr.. Baer, after
expressing his Discrimination to accept
this suggestion. said that his company
would submit their pay rolls under
nf ,bait- accountant He said
they nov. had 20 clerks who are work
ing day and night in compiling data
for the commission.
President Mitchell said that it
would facilitate the work of the COM
mission if it would accent a general
statement on those issues that affect
all the companies and the mine work
crs alike, for instance, the question OF
shorter hours.
Mr.. Truesdtlc said that his COM
pany had il plan by which it was
hoped to srcedily adjust the differ
ences between his company and the
men.
President Wilcox. speaking for his
company, said that The whole matter
was on" OF figures. DR.. Wcyl. for the
miners. said that if the suggestions of
the chairncn were accepted Mr..
Mitchcli and himself would not present
he statistics they had prepared be
cause they were ready to concede that
these. figures were not as full nor aS
correct as they would be if taken from
the companies books. President Baer.
however. thought that these statistics
would be Il check on the companies
vol x.hntllI la. rt.cSpnip1
Mr. Mitchell responded that hc
would not be insistent on the subject
ana turning to Mr.. Baer said: If We
are able to agree as to what rates are
paid for different classes of workmen.
their monthly and annual earnings.
that would form basis of any argu-
ments that might be made on either
side"
Judge Gray EXPRESSED the opinion
that il would bc a criminal waste Of
time 10 dis ute over facts that could
b.. vcritabIy and accurately ascer-
taincd without dispute.
Mr. Mitchell again said it was his
desire to facilitate matters.
THAT is the only object wc have in
view. said be, in asking that the
rates Of wages as shown by the com
pan.s' books be verified III advance"
President Bacr responded by saying
that th" men would know whether the
companies pay fols We're right.
VIII your statement give the differ
rnt classes of workmcn?' inquired Mr.
Mitchell.
"I'ndoubtedly. said Mr.. I'acr.
After further controversy between tn"
members of the commission and the min
ers and mine representatives. judge Gray
modified his suggestion. this time pre-
scntinc il in the shape OF proposition
that only one expert accountant be an
pointed who should analyze tn" staie-
ment made by both sides 10 the contro-
V-rsy ana verify the facts for the coisiu-
eratlon of the commission. Mr.. Bacr
promptly accepted this suggestion, and
Mr.. Mitchell followed suit after y brlct
explanation on his part.
President Gray then announced tina.
The. commission for The present Wuniu
proceed without appointing an expert.
hlt that ii would require that state
m.nts should be prepared and then. ht
.iddcd. an accountant could be secured III
case it was found his services were neoo-
cd. .
The question Of the examination by the
commission into the conditions under
which the mining OF anthracite coal i
conducted was then entered ON.
Mr. Mitchell thought That not Only
should thtr. bc an inspection of In"
mines hut also of the homes. OF the min
HI i,.3a ffass1t tim,