The Washington times., 1902-10-18
COMMISSION TO AWAIT
MINERS CONVENTION
fresidentC ConfidentPIanWil
Be Accepted.
ARBITRATORS TO PAY BILLS
Congress Likely to Reimburse Them
Later by an Appropriation
Would Allow Per Diem.

It is taken for granted at the White
House that the miners convention
called for Monday, will vote TO accept
the plan of arbitration agreed upon by
the coal operators and John Mitchell
No meeting of the arbitration board wiz
be held, however-not even for the pur-
pose of preliminary organization-until
after the miners convention.
Provided the Wilkesbarre convention
acts favorably. an organization of the
board will be effected at once. The
members will call on President Roose-
Welt in a body and will receive instruc-
tions from him as TO the matters to be
Investigated. These matters will be in
line with those stated by the coal opera
tors in the communication which they
addressed to the public through the
President Monday night
Compensation Not Considered.
The question of compensation for the
arbitrators has not yet been considered.
OF, IL it has been considered. no infor-
nation on the subject is obtainable at
the White House. This is one of the de-
tails which has been left for considera-
tion next week.
The board does not exist under any
statute of the United States, the arbi-
tration authorized by the law of 1898
relating exclusively to disputes between
railway employees and common carriers.
Some special provision will 1ave to
be made. therefore, to recompense the
members for their services In the
opinion of Commissioner Wright, the
members and even the employees of the
board will have to trust in Congress, and
in the meantime serve without pay
Congress to Act.
No other provision can be made he
said. "But l do not believe that Con-
eress will make any trouble about it. |
1t could find that $4,000 arbitration
fund, assigned to the now defunct In |
drstrsal Commission, and never touched |
ny them. IS available for the purpose.
and the bill Of expenses could then be
added to the first appropriation bill re-
ported, namely, the urgent deficiency
bill. 1t will eepend on Congress also
whether the members of the strike COM
mission are to serve without compensa-
tion or rot. Congress would have the
right to allow the members a per diem
in the same BILL
Chicago Commission.
The commission which investigated
the Chicago strike was composed of only
4 \
has six. The Chicago commission sat in
state, like court, and the strike com
mission will probably follow the prece-
dent The members of the Chicago
board were allowed $40 per diem and ex-
penses and the entire cost of the COM
mission was $1,000. If-Congress should
allow the members of the strike board
fer diem, it is unlikely that the cost of
the investigation will be below $4,000.
Two OF the members of the commission
ard the recorder of the board, Labor
Commissioner Wright, called upon the
President YESTERDAY
A Life Achievement.
Brig. Gen. John NJ Wilson. eU. S. A..
SLil Su- bolt " tiie fTtStutHI PERSONALLY
his acceptance of {. place on the coal
strike commission. On leaving the q
mansion General Wilson said
Il have accepted this appointment jusi
Is ! would accept an order 10 go into
,attle. If I can be helpful to my couri-
-rymen by serving on this commission ]
will consider it the crowning achieve
nent of my life
E. W. Parker. another member of the 4
commission, also paid his respects to the
President yesterday, and accepted the g
position.
Mr.. Parker said he did not know when u
he commission would be called to-
,ether, but believed the President would {
ssue the call early next week He
ealized that a very great task lay be- .
ore the commission, and felt sure all >
be members would be eager TO accom- =
liss something at once. -
Of nm TN -Iir