The Washington times., 1902-10-28

the meantime there should be some ar
rangement to determine which of the
companies would be taken up first for
investigation, in order that the COM
mission might decide where it would
next meet.
President Thomas. who followed Mr..
Baer, caused some surprise by stating
that his company did not regard the
proceedings which the commission were
about to begin as an arbitration, but
rather as an investigation. While the
difference was slight, he said, II was
material
Form Immaterial.
The letter of the President would
seem to settle that said Chairman
Gray. laconically. I'VE are here to deal
with substance and not with form.
Mr.. Thomas suggested that as five Of
the large companies had their principal
Offices in New York it might be we'll to
hold the sessions of the commission in
that city.
In the informal discussion which fol-
lowed in an effort to reach an under
standing upon various matters, Mr..
Mitchell said. with reference to Mr..
Baer's statements that there was nothing
general matters which would affect all
OF the companies alike, and that IT
would facilitate matters If an agree
ment were to be reached as to these,
and that thereafter the points of differ
ence with different companies might be
taken up. AS an example. he suggested
the matter of shortening the hours of
labor in the mines. a matter which had
10 do with all the mines.
President Truesdale. of the Delaware,
Lacka wanna and Western, read state
ment to the effect thay his company en-
ployed in the mines about 1900 men
and boys. He had been informed that
so per cent of these, or about 10000,
when the question of striking arose,
voted not to go out. A majority of them
had, however. quit work when the strike
was ordered, but others had remained.
To Settle Own Differences.
the non-union men at his company's
mines agree upon a committee to meet
one representing the company and con-
slider the differences between the min
ers and their employers. and to adjust
as many points of difference as possible
among themselves, submitting those
upon which no agreement could be
reached TO the commission for arbitra-
ton. No action was taken upon this
suggestion
Mr.. WILCOX indorsed in a general
way what Mr. Bser had said The mat
ter in dispute, he said, was largely one
Of figures involving the wages paid 20
the miners.
Our position is he said that the
wages paid are adequate for the ser
vice rendered, and that they will com
pare favorable with those paid in other
industrial lines in the same locality"
Accountant Suggested.
i long discussion then followed, and
was participated in by all of the opera
tors and by Mr.. Mitchell and Mr Weyi,
as to the best method of ascert aiming
the facts as to the wages paid to miners
Chairman Gray suggested that it might
be advisable to have the operators ap-
point an accountant and the miners one
to go over the books of the companies
and prepare tables and schedules.
Mr.. Baer saiG this would be a long
and laborious task He said the off
GERS CT his company would make sworn
statements as TO rates and schedules.
Mr. Weyl favored Chairman Gray's sug
gestinn. He said In order to ascertain |
all the facts IT was not only necessary |
to have the rate Of wages paid but |
also the earnings per week and per |
month, as the men were not employ ed |
al Of the time. and rate alone would |
be unfair. The statistics which the
miners had, he said, were incomplete,