The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-10-28
COAL STRIKE COMMISSION
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(Continued from First Page.) those issues that affect all the compa- nies and the mine workers alike-for instance, the question of shorter hours.
 MT. Truesdale said that his company had plan by which it was hoped 10 speedily adjust the differences between his company and the men. This plan was for the miners to appoint a com mittee to meet a committee of his com pany and discuss their grievances, and if there were any such that could not be settled, then those issues should go be- fore the commission for final arbitra- tion.
 President Wilcox, speaking for his company, said that the whole matter was one of figures.
 Dr. Weyl, for the miners, said that if the suggestions of the chairman were accepted MT. Mitchell and himself would not present the statistics they had prepared, because they were ready i to concede that these figures were not as full and as correct as they would be | if taken from the companies books. | President Baer, however, thought trat these statistics would be check on the companies payrolls and should be pres ent.
 MT. Mitchell responded that he would not be insistent on the subject, and, l turning to MT 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 a basis of any arguments that might be made on either side"
 Judge Gray expressed the opinion l that it would be a criminal waste of 1 time to dispute over facts that could be vertically and accurately ascertained without dispute. When once ascer- 1 tained," said he, "their interpretation i is another thing"
 | MT. Mitchell again said that it was his desire to facilitate matters and that there should be mutual agreement on l the facts, and that controversies should be eliminated if possible. That is the only object we have in view" said he, fin asking that the rates of wages as shown by the companies books be ver- flied in advance"
 President Baer responded by saying that the men would know whether the companies payrolls were right, and that no issue would arise on that sub- ject.
 "Will your statement give the differ ent classes of workmen?'' inquired MT. Mitchell.
 Undoubtedly" said MT. Baer After further controversy between the members of the commission and the miners and mine representatives Judge I Gray modified his suggestion, this time presenting it in the shape of proposi- tion that only expert accountants be appointed who should analyze the
 statements made by both sides to the controversy and verify the facts for the consideration of the commission.
 Mir Baer promptly accepted this sug-
 gestion and MT. Mitchell followed suit
 after a brief explanation on his part
 He said that the plan was not entirely
 in accord with the wish of the miners
 who are anxious to avoid all contro- versy as to the interpret ation of figures
 President Gray then announced that
 the commission, for the present, would
 proceed without appointing an expert
 but that it would require that state
 ments should be prepared and then, he
 added, an accountant could be secured
 in case it was found his services were
 needed
 The question of the examination by
 the commission into the conditions un.
 der which the mining of anthracite coa
 is conducted was then entered on, and
 MT. Watkins, of the commission, sug-
 gested that a week or ten days time
 would be necessary in order to make ar adequate examination of the physica conditions about the mines. He ap'
 pealed to MT. Thomas for his opinior
 as to the time necessary, and that gen
 tleman replied:
 You will certainly need that muck
 time; I sholud think that thirty days
 would be non too little. We've growr
 gray in our study of that question"
 MT. Baer also fell in with the sug'
 gestion, saying that it would be impos
 sible to do justice to the investigation
 without a complete physical inspection
 of the mines and the methods of oper ating them. MT. Mitchell thought tha.
 not only should there be an inspection of the mines but also Of the homes O the miners. He considered this inves tigation necessary to a complete under standing os the subject.
 After consulting the members of tn commission President Gray announced that it would begin it's inspection mex Thursday, commencing it's work in dis trict No. i, in which the city of Scran ton is located. While no conclusion
 was reached on the subject the conver sation among members of the conlmis sion indicated that it is their purpos
 to investigate the mining operations il a number of mines. While the subjec
 was up MT. Baer said that the min operators would furnish all facilities a their command to enable the commis . sion to make it's Investigation thor
 ough, adding that they would place '. special train at the, disposal of tn commission, providing also for the ac
 commodation of representative of tn
 miners.
 The public meeting of the commissio . | then came to close and the commis sioners retired for the purpose of pri vate consultation. They first took u the question which had been raised b E the proffer of special train by MI \ Baer and unanimously decided not E accept the train. The exchange c ! lob Gel ,,k A1