The bee., 1902-06-19

by reading what he says as quoted
below. 1t will also be seen just
how some Of the operators feel
over the question Of arbitration:
Commissioner Wright, when
asked about his special work of
probing the coal strike, gave out
the following statement at the
Hotel Manhattan:
The object of my coming here
is pretty we'll known by the in
formation given out at Washing
ton, but to tell just what | am
going to do, or whom | am going
to see, might seriously interfere
with the official information. |
am not going to Go that. | shall
remain here, and will discuss
routine matters concerning the
inquiry with members of my de-
partment. | am simply carrying
out the provisions of the organic
laws under which the labor bu-
reau is operated, which, in nut
she'll, are described in the law as
follows:
"Section z. The Commissioner
of Labor is also specially charged
to investigate the causes of ana
facts leading to all controver-
sizes and disputes between the
employer and the employe as
they may occur, and which may
tend to interfere with the well
fare of the people of the differ
ent States.
"Sec. 8. He is also authorized
to make special reports on par
ticular subjects whenever re-
quired to do so by the president,
or either house of Congress, or
when be shall think the subject
in his charge requires it,"
BY these clauses, you see, |
have right to take up an inves-
tigation into the coal strike. OF
course / cannot interfere or act
as arbitrator or pacificator. Ar
bitration is within the province
of the Civic Federation. | am
in sympathy with the organiza-
tion. | understand the pacific
purposes of the body. Although
possessing no power under exist
ing conditions, as patriotic citi-
zen President Roosevelt is inter
ested in settling this trouble.
He cannot interfere, but can ad-
wise or suggest, and the official
investigation may reveal chinks
in the situation which have not
as yet been touched on in the
general report, and on which he
may be able to act. He wants
all the information obtainable,
and all the energies of my de-
partment are being directed to
that end. Perhaps we may be
able to discover something below
the surface. | shall hold con-
ference this afternoon with my
men, and do not anticipate /
shall have any trouble in getting
the information asked for.
TO CONFER WITH COAL OPERATORS.
Mr.. Wright would not discuss
the lines on which he would con-
duct his investigation, nor could
he tell how soon his work would
be ended. tbs understood, how
ever, that Mr.. Wright will hold
informal conferences with the
presidents of the coal carrying
RAILROADS which penetrate the
fields now disturbed
Some of the presidents of the
coal carrying companies said that
Mr.. Wright's visit would not al
ter the situation. They had nc
objection to see him if he called.
President Truesdale, of the Della
ware, Lackawana and Western
railroad said:,
If. MIR. Wright comes, l will re-
ceive him courteously, but dc
not see how anything can affect
the situation. AS to arbitration,
| there can he none. Our late en-
ployes say to us, "We will burn
your barns and poison your wells
if you do not give US what we
want" Can outside parties
come in and decide as to whether
they can burn our barns and
poison our wells ? l don't think
they can. We prefer to protect
ourselves from such things
New York Tribune.