The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-11-23
Strike Commission AdjOurns TO
Give Sides a Chance
WILL MEET AGAIN DEC, 8
In the Meantime subcommittee WIN
Keep In Touch With Operators
and Miners So az to Assist
In the Matter.


today to meet December 3. and 1t Is the
hope and expectation of all parties to
the controversy that when the arbitrators
again meet an agreement on all points IN
dispute will be ready for submission to
and approved by the commissioners. At
torneys on both sides express the opinion
that an amicable adjustment will be
reached and predict that the commission
ers will make only one more trip to this
city.
Before adjourning today sub or CON
ciliation'' committee was appointed in or
der that the wishes of the commission
may be officially voiced with regard to
any matter that might arise in the In
terval The commissioners want 1t un-
derstood that they have the last say In
the adjustment Of the differences that
they will carry the full responsibility OF
whatever award. If any, they may make.
and that whatever is agreed upon must
have their full approval before the agree
ment can be put in operation.
The committee which is made up OF
Commissioners Watkins, Parker and
Clark, this afternoon called into confer
ence as many of the attorneys represent
ing all the parties before the commission
as could be gathered on short notice and
stated to them the attitude of the COM
mission.
:. Statement Given Out.
After the meeting a statement was
given out in order that the general pub
lie, which the commission regards as
seriously interested in the proceedings,
might know the position of the arbitrators
fha fy1rr of off "a fra a
on Friday. This statement in full is as
follows:
Scranton, November %.
''It appears that there is some misun-
derstanding or some lack of understand
ing In connection with the recess taken
by the commission, and the suggestion
in that connection is that possibly the
contestants might be able to agree upon
some of the important points involved.
THE recess was desired by counsel for
both sides. because authoritative state
ments of hours and wages, which arc
being prepared are not as yet ready.
1.-The suggestion was made that per-
haps some agreements might be reached
between the principals which would sim
plify the problem and assist in reaching
proper conclusions. The chairman, speak
ing for the commission, stated that the
commission would gladly cooperate as
far as could be consistently done on fur
thering an effort to reach an understand
ing through conciliatory means and
methods.
''The idea has gone out in some quar-
ters that the matter is to be settled with
out further effort or responsibility on
the part of the commission. This idea Is
entirely wrong. The commission WILL as
announced cheerfully encourage concilia-
tory spirit and action between the par
ties to the controversy, but the commits
sion has not surrendered and will not
surrender Jurisdiction of any of the mat
ters which has been referred to 1t, nor
responsibility for the conclusion reached.
No adjournment can be made which does
not, by its terms, commend itself strong
ly enough to secure the approval Of the
commission and it's incorporation In the
award.
with view and for the purpose of
removing any misunderstanding which
might exist, the subcommittee of the
committee invited such of the counsel
representing the several interests in
volved, as could be reached, to meet this
evening"
-. Individual Operators Object.
The individual operators, between thirty
and forty of whom are represented be-
fore the commission, are disposed to OBJ
jeet to the way matters have been pro-
crossing. Mr. Burns, one of their attor-
neys brought the matter before the COM
mission today and said the Individual
operators wanted to be consulted In what
ever agreements regarding the proceed
ings before the commission may be made.
In all that has so far taken place. he
said, the independent operators have not
been consulted, although they had no
objection to the ten-day adjournment.
Chairman Gray, for the commission had
long colloquy with Mr.. Burns in which
Judge Gray gave the independent oper-
ators to understand that the commission
ers will not abrogate their duty and that
whatever agreements tending toward a
settlement of questions at issue have been
effected were made by the parties to the
agreements and that the commission had
taken no part in them. AS a result of
the discussion the Individual operators
submitted a paper containing state
ment of their position. The independent
operators say they would rather have the
whole matter threshed out before the
commission than have a private settle
ment of the differences
There were no important developments
today in the matter of agreements be-
tween the large coal companies and the
miners Each side Is feeling its way and
by the early part of next week they
will be ready to proceed. There were
informal conferences among the attor-
neys during the day, but nothing def
mite was reported. The rough basis on
which the parties In interest will work
is d 10 per cent increase. nine-hour day
and yearly agreements between the men
and company, which employees them. The
matter of yearly agreements with the
men and not with the United Mine Work.
ers, as an organization, possibly will be
left to the commission to arbitrate.