Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-24
HAS BEGUN ITS WORK
Organization of the Arbitra-
tion Commission.
JUDGE GRAY PRESIDES
MEMBERS RECEIVED BY THE
PRESIDENT.
Brief Instructions Presented to Them
Assistants to the Recorder Sc
lected-Executive Session Held.
JUDGE GRAY PRESIDES

The anthracite coal strike commission has
held its first meeting, and has begun the
work which it is hoped will prevent a re-
currence of the difficulties which have tied
up the fuel of the country during five
months and threatened every fireside.
The commissioners met at the temporary
White House this morning and had a short
talk with the President over the work they
are about to undertake.
Mr. Z. E. Clark, president of the Order of
Railway Conductors, was the first member
of the commission to arrive. He reached
the White House exactly at 10 O'Clock.
Bishop Spalding. accompanied by Rev. DR..
D. J. Stafford of this city, was the next to
put in an appearance. General John H.
Wilson, who arrived moment later, was
followed by Mr.. Thomas H. Watkins and
Colonel Wright, commissioner of labor, the
recorder of the commission. Then came
Mr.. E, w. Parker, the mining expert, while
Judge Gray of the United States circuit
court. was the last member to reach the
Presidents house. With his arrival the
commission was complete. Several of the
members had never before met. The in
Productions were made in Secretary Cor
telyou's office, and Immediately thereafter
the commission ascended the stairs to the
The President greeted the members of the
commission cordially. The interview was
brief lasting scarcely twenty minutes. The
work to be done by the commission was
informally discussed. The President i'm
pressed upon the commissioners the impor
tance Of expedition. and informed them that
he had decided to appoint two assistants
TO the recorder to facilitate the work
Instructions for the Commission.
He then presented to them their instruc-
tions as follows:
WHITE HOUSE.
washington, October % 1902
ITO the Anthracite Coal Strike Commission:
"Gentlemen-At the request both of the
operators and of the miners, l have ap-
pointed you a commission TO inquire into
consider and pass upon the questions in
controversy in connection with the strike in
the anthracite region. and the causes out of
which the controversy arose. BY the ac-
ton you recommend, which the par
oossontna ties IN interest have in advance
consented to abide by, you will
endeavor to establish the relations between
the employers and the wageworkers in the
anthracite fields on a just and permanent
basis, and as far possible to do away
with any causes for the recurrence of such
dIfhculties as those which you have been
called In to settle. l submit 20 you here
with the published statement of the opera
tors, following which l named Won as tha
members Of the commission, Mr.. Wright ha
ing named as recorder; also the letter from
Mr. Mitchell.
appoint Mr.. Moseley and Mr. Nell as
assistants to the recorder
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
MT Moseley, named as assistant to the
recorder, is Mr.. Edward A Moseley sec
Te1ary or the interstate commerce commits
sion, ana DR.. Charles P Nell the other
assistant to the recorder, is professor OF
pohtlcal economy of the Catholic JTniver-
sity. -
Declined to Talk.
Ihe members of the commission with
Grew in body. When they left the White
House they declined to comment upon
their conference. They went direct to the
ONCE of Commissioner of Labor Wright to
organize and prepare for their work
Al the door OF the temporary White HOuse
the commissioners had to face several
photographers, and as they walked through
Lafayette Square some OF the men with
cameras ran ahead of them and planted
thelr apparatus in order to get additional
PICTURES When they finally arrived at the
once OF Commissioner Wright in the Ma
tlonaI Safe Deposit Company's building
corner OF New York avenue and 18th street
ne hrst work was the photograDhing of
the commission at Mr. Wright's desk II
was already understood in a general way
that Judge Gray was to be made president
OF the commission, and he was given the
place OF honor in the center of the eroun
Mr. Wright was seated in his customary
place at his desk and Bishop Spalding was
seated at the other end Of the line The
other commissioners were standing. Sew
eSaI photographs were made. and the room