The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-10-30
STRIKE COMMISSION
At WORK AMONG MINES
Loses No Time EnveStigat-
ing Conditions.
VISITS HOMES OF THE MEN
After Busy Day Party VIII Return to
Scranton, But Not 70 Take
Testimony
VISITS HOMES OF THE MEN

SCRANTON. Pa. Oct sO--The an
thracite strike commission, whose find
ngs is hoped to prove the basis Of
peace for all time between the opera
tors and mine workers, started actual
work this morning i VIII consist OF an
Investigation CT conditions At the mines
and the miners homes which viii con
sumo about a week The length of time
cannot he determined but the work is to
be thoroughly done,
The commissioners, most OF whom
have. never seen an anthracite mine and
know virtually nothing o. the working
process. will after their tour OF the re-
Eion. be able to more intelligently con
slider the evidence.
This is the reason for the inyestiga-
tion. They Will not Try 10 learn the
technicaIities of the work, but be salts
fed with a knowledge of the actual con-
ditions and an appreciation Of the kind
and amount Of work man does for a
certain rate Of pay.
Begins at Topmost Tier
The investigation commenced at the
topmost tier OF. collieries- The commits
sion. on a special train, left this city
for Forest City this morning, all the
members being present Accompanying
them for the mine workers were District
President Nichols, Organizer Collins
and the Rev. Peter Roberts, OF Mahanoy
city. who has been aiding Mr. Mitchell
in preparing statistics. With them were
two practical miners. knowing the mines
OF the CarbondaIe district
For the operators there were Super
intendent c C Rose, OF the Delaware
and Hudson. Capt W A May, Of the
Erie; General Manager B F. Thorna. If
the Temple Coal and Iron Company, and
General Manager c. S. Dryden, .: the
New York. Ontario and Western
Wright Speaks for Commission
Commissioner Wright has been dele
gated by the other members Of the -g-,-
mission TO speak for the board Re
said his morning:
Our plans are not mapped out fa, IN
entire investigation yet. We win for
the present continue as we ave doing t.
day Tomorrow the mines in and about
this city viii be visited and w wsIl
continue through the region. But WHARF
We will be On a certain day is NJ. de-
termined- We viii proceed with as
much dispatch as Is compatible with a
thorough investigation"
When will you hear testimony" he
was asked
THE mine workers say they viii have
their report ready for US on Monday,
but We may not be prepared to take it
then; we cannot just say how we viii
proceed
How long do you expect it viii take
TO finish the investigation Of the physi-
cal conditions st the mines2"
I cannot say; there may be rainy
days, you know, and then We may hear
testimony on those days
President Mitchell. of the Mine Work
ers. did not proceed with the commits
sion on its first day He has not com
pleted the report which he viii be ready
to submit On Monday. If necessary
Members Of the commission are at the
Hotel Jermyn. except Bishop SpaIding.
who IS the guest OF Bishop Hoban. Of the
Scranton diocese.
Inspection Of the Hines
Il was determines after some discus
zion 10 allow the newspaper men to ac-
company the party entour. and three are
to be allowed 70 enter she mines with
the commission. This restriction is
made owing 10 the danger of having a
large party in the mines
The members Of the commission this
morning made tour Of the Clifford
Mine. OF the Erie Company. employing
about 500 H7eE, and returned TO Carbon
dale for lunch. Later in the day the
party viii 20 to Pticeburg by the On
tario and Western Railroad. where the
company's mine. Johnson, No. ., en-
ploying about 1000 men VIII be inspect
ed
At the latter place there viii be the
best opportunity offered the commission
wiI have in the valley for seeing miners
homes under varying conditions. This
evening the commission returns here.
and tomorrow VIII spend the day in and
about Scranton.
II IS understood no testimony other
than that gained by personal inquiry
viii be taken BY the commission while
here.