The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-10-25
FIRST SESSION OF
The COMMISSION
President Roosevelt Delivers
His instructions.
JUDGE GRAY is CHAIRMAN
The Arbitration Poard Notifies Mitchell and the
Operators 10 be on Hand Monday
to Arrange Time for
Hearings.
(By the Associated Press.)


Washington, d. c., Oct. 24.-The mem
bers of the Strike Arbitration Commits
sion, appointed by President Roosevelt.
met at the White House shortly after
10 clock this morning and went into
conference with the President.
The President greeted the members of
the commission cordially. The interview
was brief. lasting scarcely twenty min
utes The work to be done by the com
mission was informally discussed. The
President impressed upon the commits
sin the Importance of expedition and in
formed them that he had decided to ap-
point two assistants to the recorder to
facilitate the work. He then presented
TO them their instructions as follows:
white House.
Washington, D. c., Oct. "a. 1902
"To the Anthracite Coal Strike Commits
sion.
"Gentlemen:-At the request both of
the operators and of the miners, l have
appointed you a commission to inquire
into, consider and pass upon the ques-
the strike in the anthracite region, and
The causes out of which the controversy
arose BY the action you recommend,
which the parties in interest have in
advance consented to abide by you will
endeavor to establish the relations be-
tween the employers and the wage-work-
ers in the anthracite fields on just and
permanent basis and, as far as possible,
TO dc away with any causes for the re-
currence of such difficulties as those
which you have been called in to settle.
I submit to you herewith the published
statement OF the operators. following
which l named you as the members of
the commission, Mr.. Wright being named
as recorder; also the letter from Mr..
Mitchell.
Il appoint Mr.. Moseiey and Mr.. Neiu
IS assistants to the recorder.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
With the instructions were the state
ments of the operators. The members
CT the commission withdrew in a body
When they left the White House, they
declined to comment upon their inter-
view They went direct to the office of
Commissioner of Labor Wright to or
ganize and prepare for their work.
The commission went into executive
session at Colonel Wright's Office at II
o'clock Judge Gray was chosen chair
, nan and Will be known as the presi-
dent of the commission. Among the
questions under consideration were those
pertaining to the place of meeting. the
order in which witnesses shall be called
whether the sessions shall be open to
the press, whether cunsel for the par
ties at interest shall be permitted TO
he present, etc.
The commission adjourned st 12:45
o'clock to meet again next Monday at
O'Clock After the adjournment the an
nouncement was made that only two con-
clusions had been reached The first OF
these was to admit the public TO all for
nal meetings of the commission, and the
second. to notify the parties to the con-
troversy to be present at the meeting on
Monday for the purpose Of arranging
time for hearings which will be con-
venient for all concerned. Notices were
accordingly sent TO the mine operators
and 70 Mr.. Mitchell, president of the
United Mine Workers. asking them to be
IN attendance Monday
Tt was stated that most of tho time
Of today's meeting was taken up with
q discussion of the question as to the
time when hearings shall be held, the
result Of which was the conclusion to
call in the people interested before reach
ing q decision.
The commission has already adopted
an official name and has had its printing
prepared. designating it as the Anthra-
cite Coai Strike Commission.
Edward ~ Moseley. who becomes an
assistant to Recorder Wright by direction
of the President, is secretary of the
Interstate Commerce Commission. Dr.
Neill. the other assistant recorder. is
professor of Political Economy at the
Catholic University, located near Wash
ington.
The commission took lunch with the
President.