The Washington times., 1902-09-04
Attorney Generals View
of the Position of
the Executive.
Mr.. WRIGHT's REPORT FILED
Result of the Labor Commissioners In
vestigation of Situation in Anthra-
cite Field-His Conclusions Reviewed
by Department of Justice.


by Department of Justice.
The report of Hon. Carroll ID. Wright.
Commissioner of labor, on the existing
coal strike. which he investigated about
three months ago at the request of
President Roosevelt. was made public
yesterday through the Department of
Justice. The report is addressed to Mr..
Roosevelt, and in making it public the
Department of Justice indorses it as
follows:
After carefully going over Commis-
sioner Wright's report the President
submitted ii 10 the Attorney General.
who. after giving it full and careful con-
sfderation, reports that the Executive
has no power whatever TO take action in
the matter. The report is accordingly
made public for the information of the
people
Commissioner Wright's report con-
tains about 1900 words and is summed
up in the following general considera-
tions."
Text of the Report.
Much evidence has been offered to
show the general condition of miners,
their complaints and grievances. and
the complaints and grievances Of the
operators. In a critical sense, these
have all been referred to above and the
various appendices give them more
fully.
1t is very clearly shown by the evil
dence that the miners have done some
thing in the way of securing discipline,
although they have disappointed the
operators in such attempts.
Claims of the Miners.
The miners claim that they have
forced their members to accept dis
charge whenever they were wrong, and
have ordered men back when the strike
was not authorized by the labor union;
that when the officers of the union
have been able to see the manager of
q company concerning any case and
have been allowed to confer, they have
almost invariably been able to arrive
at an adjustment of the difficulty, but
that where the manager refused to
deal with the representatives of the
Union there was no choice but to pass
upon the matter according to the evil
dence of one side only, such evidence |
being taken as conclusive and the Off |
GERS being obliged to decide in favor |
of the men who have preferred a wish
not to work under existing conditions. |
e Union Wishes Recognition.
This, it is claimed, Injuries the corpor-
ations, because the results have not |
been based upon full evidence. The |
miners feel that the corporations. when
they refuse to recognize the right of
the unions to represent the men in ad-
justing any difficulty, cannot deny that |
the ofiicers have the power to decide |
whether or not the employees shall |
strike.
They also state that if the operators |
will make an agreement with them, they
Will carry it out as far as IL lies in their
power to do so, but that without an
agreement they are all the time quib
bling as to conditions under which min
ers shall work. They feel that an agree
ment in writing will protect the corpor-
ations from unjust strikes. If they really
desire such protection. The way it
appears to the average workman is that
the operators do not want an agreement
that will bind them and prevent them
from following their usual course.
Agreement of No Effect.
On the other hand the operators con-
tend that no such agreement would have
any binding effect upon the miners, and
that II is ridiculous and foolish to un-
dertake to make one; that they are in
terfered with constantly in their efforts
to preserve order and good discipline
All this shows. and proves clearly, Il
that there is no confidence existing be-
tween the employees and their employers
and that suspicion turks in the minds of
everyone and distrust in every action
on either side.
It is represented to me by reputable
parties. who have no interest in the
mining business one way or the other
that the chief difficulty lies in the lack
of organization. This is shown by the ,
existence of many practices in the man.
agement of coal mines which appear TO
be unwise. unfair, aud calculated TO
work hardship.
There are many prosperous miners in ,
the coal Tt6iOu Guu OF course lnere Is
also, as in every industry, great desti-
tuition. The whole problem is an ex-
complex one, and involves many {
practices that have been built up {
long years. {
Both Sides Suspicious.
The mine owners too often have re- ;
earded the average miner as unreason-
able and likely TO be unruly when oc- ;
casion offered. The miner has come to
regard the average owner as greedy and
ready 10 do anything which will take
advantage of him. Long continued con-
ditions on this basis of suspicion make
The question one of great difficulty.
II would seem reasonable that If the
men should be sure of steady work |
Or fairly steady work they could well
afford. perhaps, 10 take less wages, or
sven to continue on the present basis Of /.
De yment. 1t is insisted by many that !.
eight hours day for six DAYS in the
week at less wages than they are now
-eceiying would make the miners as
prosperous a class of workmen as can ,
De found In the United States.
Some of the miners have testified that
Z they can be paid by honest weight !,
hey do not care anything about the
Increase OF wages. They say they would
ather work nine hours day with a :
decreased wage than on the old basis.
Relieyes in Miners' TIniou ,