New-York tribune., 1902-10-15
PRESIDENT READY TO ACT
WILL APPOINT COMMISSION As soov
AS AGREEMENT IS REACHED.

Washington. Oct. 14.-President Roosevelt "a
waiting to learn from Mr.. Mitchell presidents
OF the United Mine Workers Of America.
whether the proposition made by the coal oper-
ators for settlement of the anthracite strike
Is acceptable to the striking miners II is ex-
pected that Mr.. Mitchell will come to Washing
ton Tomorrow and have personal conferences
with the President.
The President will be ready to announce the
appointment Of the commission as soon as a
final agreement is reached by the operators and
the strike leaders. He has received many sugS
gestions as to suitable men for the ive places.
MEN SUGGESTED FOR COMMISSIONERS
For the first pIace-"an officer in the engineer
corps OF either the military or naval service OE
the United States''-the man most conspicuous
ly mentioned is Rear Admiral George w Mel
willie. engineer in chief Of the navy. Admiral
Melville is a recognized authority on coal and
fuel of all kinds Is a thoroughly practical man.
and is acquainted with mining operations. His
selection is believed to be most probable. Briga-
dier General George L. Gillespie. chief OF en-
gineers OF the army. who stands high IN tbs
profession. is also suggested.
For the second pIace-"an expert mining engts
neer. experienced in the mining of coal and
other minerals. and not in any way connected
with coal mining properties. either anthracits
or bituminous"-twO men are mentioned. They
1
Mines and Mineral Resources in the United
States Geological Survey. and Edward W.
Parker. the coal expert OF the Geological Sur
vey. Both Of these men are recognized author
tiles on coal mining. and both familiar with
conditions in the anthracite field which they
have studied impartial scientific observers
and are without any bias which would affect
their Judgment the questions at issue. If
neither OF them should be available the Presi-
dent might choose a professor of mining in one
Of the great educational institutions OF the
country
The third member proposed BY the operators is
''one OF the judges of the United States courts
of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania" Under
this the President must select either Circuit
Judge George Gray. of Wilmington. Del; Circuit
Judge NJ. A. Acheson. OF Pittsburg; Circuit
Judge George NJ. Dallas. OF Philadelphia. Dis
trict Judge John B. Mcpherson. OF Philadelphia.
For the fourth place"a man of pTOminen- e
eminent a sOciOlogist"-the leading names
suggested are those of Carroll D. Wright. COm-
missioner Of Labor Professor j. W. jerks. Of
Cornell University. and Jacob Riis. Of New
York. Either one of these men could be relied
upon to treat the strikers with fairness All
have studied social conditions as they prevail in
the mining regions and elsewhere. though each
has followed different method in his investiga%
tions. The President has great confidence in all
of them
When the operators proposed that the fifth
member OF the committee should be "a man whOs
by active participation in mining and selling
COAL is familiar with the physical and CONNER
ciaI features OF the business" they may noe
have had Senator NJ. A. Hanna. OF Ohio. IN mind.
but the first thought of every one in Washing
ton is of his fitness. He is practically the only
man talked OF for this place. Being in the coal
business himself he knows the side OF the Oper-
ators thoroughly. and yet the miners would. ID
is thought here, regard his selection as the best
the President could make for this place. They
are satisfied that he would be fair and would
not be deferred from doing them justice through
fear that a precedent might be established
which would embarrass him in his bituminOua
coal interests in Ohio. His relations with the
United Mine Workers there are satisfactory to
both sides.
HOPES FOR EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The President hopes that there will be no un-
necessary delay in making the termination or
the strike effective and accomplishing what ha
had in view when he began negotiatiOns-tha
prompt resumption OF coal mining and tha
speedy relief of the fuel famine. He naturally
will feel gratified by the success OF his under%
taking which many of his party associates adj
vised against and considered unwise move
from a political point of view.
The President has manifested much Hess
anxiety about the political effect OF his action
than have many others whose personal political
fortunes were not involved to such an extent.
The prospect of settlement is a great relief to
politicians generally. and especially TO those
concerned in the management OF the Congress-
campaign now in progress. They feared that
the party in power would be held responsible
for it's continuance. though il was clear. and
was admitted by Mr.. Mitchell. that there was
no way in which the government could inter-
fere II an agreement on the method OF arbf-
tration is quickly reached. and the miners re-
turn to work at once. there viii be sufficient
coal in the market before the November cleo
tiOn 10 prevent any acute distress. and the Re-
publican leaders think the party will benefit by
the fact that the settlement has been brought
about through the efforts of the President
Not the least significant and important feat
ure OF the project submitted by Mr.. Morgan
on behalf Of the coal operators Is the proposal
that the findings OF the commission shall gov
ern the conditions of employment between tue
respective companies and their own employees
for a term Of at least three years" II this -
lived up to by both sides il viii mean that
there will be no more labor disputes IN the an
thraCite fields until 1905 and that coal strike
tial campaign Of 1904 BY proposing three years
as the term for which the agreement shall run.
the operators seem to be influenced by the hope
TO have the next settlement Of wages and other
questions with their employees made in a year
The russet gold Of Autumn and the nult-colored
1 sf- 49, Ir- Dnr fra fufr