Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-30
STRIKE COMMISSIONS PROGRAM.
Preliminary Work for First Few Days
in Mine Region.

A dispatch from Scranton. Pa, last night
says: The anthracite coal strike commits
sioners, who will make an inspection of the
mines and the homes of the mine workers,
arrived here tonight over the Central Rail-
road of New Jersey. Commissioner T. H.
Watkins, whose home is in this city, came
here early in the day and arranged some
of the details for the first days tour of the
upper region. The commissions headquar-
tiers are at the Hotel Jermyn, where the
party occupies fourteen rooms.
Tomorrow will be spent in the region
north of this city. AT 9:15 am. the party
will leave via the Delaware and Hudson
railroad for Forest City. This mining town
is in Susquehanna county and is the upper
edge of the hard coal fields, twenty-five
miles from here.
The operators will be represented by Gen
eral Manager Dryden of the New York,
Ontario and Western Company; Superin-
tendent Rose of the Delaware and Hudson,
General Manager Thorne of the Temple
Iron Company and General Manager May
of the Erie Company. District President T.
d. Nichols of the miners union will be the
principal representative of the miners.
president Mitchell will not come to this
city unless sent for.
The train will travel slowly, so that the
commissioners can get a good idea of the
country. At Forest City the party will be
lowered into of the Erie Company s
mines, and it is expected that the entire
morning will be spent underground AS a
precaution against accident a superintend-
ent, fire boss or practical miner will accom-
pany each member of the party through
the workings. "-
If the program for the day is not disar-
ranged by subsequent developments lunch
will be had in Carbonate, four miles south
of Forest City coal breaker will be Wis
tied at Carbonate and then the return
journey to Scranton will be made over the
Ontario and Western railroad The com
missioners will stop at ELEPHANT, SIX miles
north of Scranton, for the purpose of visit
ing other collieries and to look at the
homes and surroundings of the mine work
ers. Scranton will be reached at about 6
o'clock in the evening.
On Friday the commission will spend the
day visiting collieries in and about the city
of Scranton and viewing the mining sub
urbs. Saturday the commission will go to
Wikesbarre to further prosecute their in
vestigations.
Mr.. Watkins in an interview today, said
that the commission will probably not sit
to take testimony until after tour of the
region has been completed. 1t is possible,
though that a session will take place Mon
day in Wilkesbarre to receive the state
ment to be presented by President Mitchell
o. the mine workers, to which the opera
tors have agreed to make answer within
three days. 1t is almost certain that no
testimony will be taken in this city this
week.
1.-The purpose Of the commission just at
present. Mr.. Watkins said, is TO get
general view of the physical conditions OF
anthracite mining with the idea of giving
the members of the commission unacquaint-
ed with coal mining an opportunity of see
ing what mine is like, how the miners
work and live and how the product is han
died With all the commissioners having
general knowledge, at least, of these sub
jects before we begin taking testimony il
will be much easier for those who will
present testimony to have their statements
intelligently appreciated"
Twenty-Five accountants were brought
here today from New York by the Erie
Company. They will assist the company's
clerks in this city in arranging data for
presentation to the commission.
For their sessions in the coal regions the
commission will use the Baltimore and Ohio
club car This car is the only one of its
kind in the country and is specially adapted
for the accommodation of bodies travelling
from place to place. 1t was fitted up for
the Gridron Clubs visit to the Lotus Club
dinner several years ago, and subsequently
was used by Admiral Dewey in his swing
around the circle. In addition to the club
car the strike commission will have at its
disposal a Pullman sleeper. The commits
| sion pays for both cars, having refused a
tender of cars made by the railroads oper-
ating in the coal regions