Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-10-17
FROM WASHINGTON.


arbitrators for the settlement of the coal
strike. dated October 16, was made
public at the White House this morn
ing. He stated that the members OF
the executive board of the anthracite
districts have agreed to call delegate
convention of the strikers on Monday
and will recommend that the men re-
turn to work. The letter contains
about 2, 600 words and is an exhaustive
review of the situation from the miners
standpoint. He states that he was OPP
posed to the operators proposition be-
cause of the restrictions placed upon the
President, but now that the restrictions
had been removed he was willing to ac-
cept arbitrament by the commission.
He comments bitterly on the conduct OF
the operators at the first conference at
the White House, characterizing their at
titude as insulting and humanity.
Closing he says "By the eminent
tribunal which you have named we
have confidence that justice will be
lone our people. We are glad TO have
Il chance to appear before such court
empowered TO consider and dispose Of
all questions at issue. First among
these is the demand of the mine workers
4or increased wages and reduction in
the hours of labor; second is The relation
which ought to exist between the en-
| ployers and the organization which the
men have formed and which they author
ize to speak for them. From this
arbitration we hope and believe will
come complete, satisfactory and per-
manent solution of the troubles which
have vexed the anthracite fields from
time immemorial.
Every member of the coal strike arbi-
tration commission, every employe OF
that commission, down to the humblest
retainer, will have to go down into his
own pocket for any expenses that may
be connected with his share Of the in
vestigation, and trust to Congress to re-
imburse him. Such is the opinion OF
Carroll ID. Wright, commissioner OF
labor, who will act as recorder of the
commission. mo other provision can
be made" he said. ''But do not be-
Iieve that Congress will make any trouble
about it. 1t could find that $4,000
arbitration fund, assigned to the new de-
funct industrial commission, and never
touched by them, is available for the
purpose, and the bill of expenses could
then be added to the first appropriation
b ii reported; namely the urgent defcien-
c. bill. 1t will depend on Congress also
whether the members of the strike COM
mission are to serve without compensa-
ton or not. Congress would have the
right to allow the members per diem
in the same BILL" The commission
which investigated the Chicago strike
was composed of only three members,
while this commission has six. The
Chicago commission sat in state, like a
court, and the strike commission will
probably follow the precedent. The
members of the Chicago board were
allowed $40 per diem and expenses and
the centre cost of the commission was
So, 600 If Congress should allow the
members of the strike board per diem,
it is unlikely that the cost of the investi-
CATION will be below $40. 600
The one surprise in connection with
the personnel of the strike commission
was the absence of Senator Hanna's
name from the list 1t was the general
impression that he would be one of the
members and many questions were asked
as to the Presidents failure to select
him. 1t is learned that it was the
Presidents desire all along to place
Senator Hanna on the commission and
that those concerned, particularly in the
labor side of the cOntroversy-President
Mitchell and Commissioner-Genera of
Immigration Sargent for instance-had
signitied their readiness to accept him.
But when his name was preached to the
representatives of the operators, they
demurred emphatically and announced
that rather than have Senator Hanna
thrust upon them they would drop the
negotiations then and there. The
operators have not forgotten the coal
strike settlement of 1900 for which they
bitterly reproach Senator Hanna, VINO,
in the language of one who knows the
secrets OF that event, 'grasped the
operators by the throat and made them
comply with his wishes by sheer force"
Senator Hanna is prominently identified
with the Civic Board of Arbitration and
Cancellation, whose existence is solely
for the purpose of bringing employer
and employee together. This board is
not left without representation on the
strike commission, however, for f. E.
Clarke, of the Order of Railway Con-
ductors, is a member of its executive
committee.
An announcement was made today |
to the New York Continental Jewell |
Filtration Company for the cOnstruc-
ton If the naval dry dock at Charles
lon South Carolina. This concern was
apparently the third lowest bidder, hav-
ing bid 81, 224, Gil but by reason of the
deductions for certain allowances under
the specifications this figure was reduced
to 1915, 900.
Brigadier General John NJ. Wilson,
U. S. A., retired, called at the temporary
White House this morning and formally |
his appointment by the Presi-
dent rs member of the strike commits
sion. No announcement has yet been
made as to the time of holding the first
meeting of the commission. 1t is be-
leved that the commissioners will choose
Judge Gray for their presiding officer.
Acting Secretary of the Treasury
Allies says that he has been informed of
the offer at the sub-treasury In New York