The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-28

Washington, Oct. 2s.-The Anthracite
Coal Strike commission in the hearing
room OF the interstate commerce commits
sion yesterday. held It's first conference.
There was a full representation OF both
operators and miners. and members OF
the press and a number OF other interest
ed parties were present.
The commission occupied the elevated
seats generally filled by members of the
interstate commerce commission. Judge
Gray. as president. occupying the centre
seat. and Messrs. Wright, Watkins and
Clark the seats to the right OF him In the
order named, while Gen. Wilson. Bishop
Spaulding and Mr. Parker sat on the left
In that order.
The proceedings covered about two
hours time. and were given up entirely
to a discussion OF the time and method
OF proceeding with the proposed investi-
cation.
The commission decided TO begin its
work next Thursday morning
o'clock the first days OF the investiga-
ton to be devoted to the physical exam
ination OF the mines and the homes or
the miners. starting In the vicinity OF
Scranton. The entire field will be covered
OBJECTED TO MITCHELL.
During the progress Of the meeting Mr..
Mitchell. as the representative OF the mi
ners, presented copy OF the original
declaration OF the miners as formulated
by the Shamokin convention, as the basis
of the demands OF the miners
Mr.. Baer. on the part OF the coal oper-
ators, took exception TO Mr.. Mltchelfs
appearance before the commission as
representative of the Mine Workers
union, but said that he had no objection
to his presence as a representative OF the
strikers as such In their individual ca
pacity.
The convention made no attempt to set
tie the controversy. but II was made APP
parent that the recognition OF the miners
union will be an important and knotty
problem for the arbitrators.
Mr.. Baer said the operators would be
prepared 20 meet the commission In the
region and to assist in giving all inform
alton. Many OF the Individual operators
are not represented and they were not
consulted and were not compromised by
the letter he had written. Judge Gray
suggested that they could be represented
Mr. Baer made a point Of saying that
the case of each coal company would be
dealt with separately. He would contend
for the sliding scale In the regulation OF
wages.
IS AN "ARBITRATIoN."
Mr.. Thomas OF the Hillside Iron and
Coal and the Pennsylvania Coal compan-
les, said he noticed that the word "arbi-
tration" had been appHed to the commits
sion's work. while he wanted IL consid-
cred as an investigation. Judge Gray
said the presidents instruction settled 1t
as an arbitration.
The suggestion that both sides appoint
experts to examine the books OF the COM
panies was made by Judge Gray. lie said
IL would be a good plan for the two OPP
posing interests In the case 20 agree that
tabulated statements relative TO existing
rates OF wages in different localities OF
the mining region be taken from the
books Of the operators. He thought that
Il would be criminal waste OF time to
dispute over facts that could be verita-
bly, and accurately ascertained without
dispute.
After some controversy between the
members OF the commission and the mi
ners and mine representatives. Judge
cray modified his first suggestion, this