Waterbury Democrat., 1902-09-05
WRIGHT on COAL STRIKE.
Important Changes Recommended
Report Just Issued.

lnlpoTlaHL IHauSeS ItecUIAlneuueu ~
Report Just Issued.
Washington, Sept 5.-On the Sth OF
June, by verbal order of President
Roosevelt. Labor Commissioners Carroll
ID. Wright undertook an Investigation
of the causes and conditions accom-
panying the present controversy be-
tween the anthracite coal miners of
Pennsylvania and the coal operators :,
This report, containing upwards of
$4,000 words, was made public Wednes-
day through the department Of justice,
together with the following comment
of the encouragement:
After carefully going over Commits
sioner Wright's report, the president
submitted it to the attorney general,
who, after giving it full and careful
consideration, reports that the execu-
tive had no power whatever I'd take ac-
ton in the matter. The report is ac-
cordingly made public for the inforna-
ton Of the public
after reviewing for considerable
length the history of The strike and his
methods Of investigation and present
ing the complaints and arguments
made by both sides of the controversy,
Commissioner Wright offers the fol-
lowing suggestions:
II. That the anthracite employees
should organize an anthracite coal
miners union, in case autonomy to be
Independent Of but affiliated with the
United Mine Workers and the Aneri-
can Federation of Labor. In the con-
/ duct of all affairs relating to the an
/ thracite coal regions, the new union
should preserve its own autonomy and
be financially responsible for its agree
ments.
%. That it would be reasonable and
just to the operators to concede at once
nine-hour day, but that this should
be done for the period Of six months
as an experiment, in order to test the
influence ON production with the guar
anty that if production is not material
" reduced thereby the agreement shall
be made for q moro permanent reduc-
tion OF time
%. That under new organization,
consisting Of anthracite employees.
there shall be ORGANIZED joint conn
mittee on Cancellation. composed OF rep
reSentatiyes of the operators and OF
the new union to which all grievances
| as they arise shall be referred for in
yestigation; and that when two-thirds
of the committee reach a decision that
decision shall be final and binding upon
both parties.
= =. That the first duty OF such Joint
board of Cancellation shall be to enter
upon thorough examination and i'm
pyestigation of all conditions relative to
mining anthracite coal. such investiga-
tion or examination to be made through
the employment of experts to be select:
ed by. the joint coinmitteee,
where MINING Is paid for by the ton.
and until the joint committee referred
to shall have made it's report, coal
shall be paid for by the ton and be
weighed by two inspectors, one reDre-
senting the operators and one repre-
senting the men.
g. That there shall be no interfer-
enre with non-union men.
~ That whenever practicable COLI
1ectfve bargains shall be made relative
to wages. time and other conditions,
under rules to be established by the
joint committee referred to.
ssThe conclusions stated above. Mr.
Presidenti' the report concludes. fare
given gin, the ligsht Of all the evidence
Hfurni Il bed men and to be reasonable
|and just and should be adopted with
some notifications. perhaps, here and
there, they would lead to A more peace
full and satisfactory condition in the
anthracite coal REGIONS.
ssThey NAV not lead. even If adopted.
fully to perfect peace. nor to the mil
lenium. but I belfevesthev will helm to
alTay irritation and reach the dav when
the anthracite coal rngions shall be
governed svsfematical1v. and In ac-
cordance with greater Justice and high
er moral PRINCIPLES than now generally
urevajl on either side"