The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-10-28
THE WORKS. PRELIMINARY
Anthracite Region to be Visit
ed by Commission.
Baer Offers to Submit Sworn State
ments as to Wages Received by
the Miners-Judge Gray
Presiding.

Washington, Oct N-The anthracite
coal strike commission today in the hear
ing room of the Interstate Commerce
Commission held it's first conference with
the parties to the controversy in the an
thracite regions.
There was a full representation of both
operators and miners. md members of the
press and a number of other interested
parties were present. The commission
occupied the elevated seats generally filled
by members Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission Judge Gray as President. &C.
cupying the center and Messrs. Wright.
Watkins and Clark the seats to the right
Of him in the order named, while General
Wilson. Bishop Spading and Mr.. Parker
sat on the life in the order Of their names.
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 investiga:
ton
The commission decided to begin its
work next Thursday morning at o'clock,
the first days OF, the Investigation to be
de, oted to a physical examination Of the
mines and the homes of the miners, start
ing in the vicinity Of Scranton. The
entire anthracite field will be covered.
Question Of Accountant.
There was considerable discussion over
a proposition made by tine commission to
have expert accountants appointed to
audit the statements of wages and clas-
siflcations of mirers to be made by the
operators for the use of the commission.
but no result was reached on this point
beyond the announcement by the chair
man of the commissions intention to ap-
point such an accountant In case his SER
vices should be found necessary
During the progress of the meeting, Mr..
Mitchell. as the representative of the
miners. presented a copy of the original
declaration of the miners as formulated
by the Shamokin convention as the basis
OF the demands of the miners. This de-
mand is. first. for an increase of 20 per
cent in wages of those not engaged by
the day; second, a reduction of 20 per
cent in working hours of those engaged
by the day; third the payment for coal
mined by weight at a minimum of 60 cents
per ton of 2,400 pounds; fourth. wage
agreement between the operators and the
miners for an adjustment of wages
Baer Objects to Mitchell.
Mr.. Baer. on the part of the coal opera
tors, took exception to Mr.. Mitchells APP
resentativ of the mine workers union,
but said that he had no objection to his
presence as a representative of the strik-
ers as such in their individual capacity.
The commission made no attempt to set
tie the controversy, but 1t was made APP
parent that the recognition of the miners
union will be an important and knottY
problem for the arbitrators.
Before opening the proceedings, the
members of the commission and the rep
resentatives of the contesting parties
were photographed. Judge Gray, the
President of the commission, then read
the order of the President creating the
commission, and in a general way out
lined the procedure to be followed. He
stated that in accordance with the i'm
memorial practice among English-speak-
ing peoples, the commission would first
receive the statements or demands of the
miners who were to be regarded for the
purpose of this case as the prosecutors
The reply of the other side would then
he heard Judge Gray said. In order that
the commission might have before it
definite issue.
Demands IS Miners.
At the conclusion Of Judge Grays re-
marks. President Mitchell stated that he
had with him ..se formal demands made
nv the miners upon the operators and at
the suggestion of Judge Gray, he read
the statement of the miners demands
adopted by the Shamokin convention. the
rejection of which resulted In the strike
walter Edward weyl was also present
as a representative of thes miners.
II was suggested that each side to the
controversy appoint an expert to go
through the books Of the coal companies
for the purpose Of securing data on
which to work, hut President Baer and
other representatives of the companies
Immediately suggested they would fur
nisb whatever information is needed.
Preceding the discussion over submit
ting the books to experts, Mr.. Baer said
the operators would be prepared to meet
the miners in the region and to assist in
Giving all information. Many of the in
dividual operators are not represented,
and they were not consulted and were
not compromised by the letter he had
written.
Baer Urges Sliding Scale.
Judge Gray suggested that they could
10 renresented At the meeting next
Monday they would determine which OF
+he conditions should be taken up first
ond the place of meeting could be de-
tcrmined by the location OF the coal COM
nanv taken up. Mr.. Baer made a point
rs saving that the case of each coal COM
,or,,' would be dealt with separately. He
ron,d contend for the sliding scale in
the regulation of wages.
'"e ~ snail urge the adoption of that profit
aborinq plan." he said. which gave us
neace formerly IN our relation to our en-
Nj Thu rs of the Hillside Iron and
caoi Company and the Pennsylvania Coal
Company. said he noticed that the term
.,orbitration'' had been applied to the
oommissions work. while he wanted 1t
oorsidered as an investigation.
Judge Gray said that the President had
,vctrTcted to settle that as an arbitra-
Mr Thomas also urged that the condi-
tins in each OF the mining companies
we're different and could only be consid-
cred separately. He thong ut more prog
sass could he made by a physical eXami-
aation OF the coal Tegton. lie thought