The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-04
THE STRIKE INQUIRY
PLODS WEAR|LY ON
A Snail Race Through the
Land of Nod.
TO SETTLE OUT OF COURT
Talk Of This Character Again Bobs up, Counsel
Look Mysterious and say Something is
in the Air---lets
Hope So.
TO SETTLE OUT OF COURT
(By the Associated Press.)

Scranton Pa. Dec. 3.-The anthracite
coal companies and theier employees hav-
ing failed to come to an agreement dur
ing the Thanksgiving recess of the Strike
Commission, the hearing of the miners
side of the case was continued today, as
heretofore, and unless something is done
matters, it's proceedings surely will run
into next year. With the reassembling
of the commission today, however, there
was revival of the talk of a settle
ment "out of court" Nothing definite
has been done and neither side has ap-
preached the other. as far as can be
learned, regarding further negotiations,
but as one prominent attorney expressed
it: There is something in the air.
The lawyers on both sides have heard
the rumor, and profess they know moth
ing about it, "but would not be surprised
If something in the way of an agree
ment is reached before the hearings are
concluded.
Chairman Gray. speaking for the COM
mission, today, again expressed the hope
that efforts would be made by both
sides to agree on as many points as pos
sible and that the commission was ready
to lend any conciliatory help to bring
about that end.
Today's proceedings we're of a more
or less desultory character. Six wit
nesses were on the stand during the two
sessions. They were President Mitchell,
two photographers, two practical miners,
one of them Hungarian, and the wife
of German miner. Mr.. Mitchell was
on the stand for short time only, and
was called to show that 20 per cent
increase in wages did not mean COR
responding increase in the price per ton
of coal. The photographers produced
about a half hundred photographs they
had taken of the homes of mine work
ers in the Hazleton region. which terri
tory was under investigation today. The
two miners testified with reference to
wages paid and working conditions at
the collieries of Coke Brothers & Com
pany an Independent concern in the
Hazleton region, and the woman. whose
husband is employed in the Coke mines,
told a story of poverty.
The commissioners at times were
seemingly impatient at the way the pro-
ceedings dragged. While they had a
half dozen witnesses before them they
did not learn much more than they al
ready knew. On their trip through the
coal fields they saw houses whose gen.
eral appearance was worse than those
pictured today, and they also received
much information along the lines pre-
sented today from the men in the mines
which they visited. They are anxious
for the documentary evidence, such as
wage statements and other data bearing
on wages and conditions. This was
strongly evidenced today when they
eagerly seized upon the due bills handed
up by the Hungarian witness. Every
man of the commission examined these
and had questions to ask about them.
One of the commissioners said today it
was principally a question of wages,
and they wanted these facts as quickly
as they could get them In this con-
nection there was considerable discus
sion between the attorneys for all sides
and the commission regarding the docu-
mentary evidence. Both parties to the
controversy had agreed to try to agree,
as far as possible, on a summary of the
great mass of figures that the hundreds
of accountants for the different COM
panies are computing, but the task is
such a stupendous one, taking in as 1t
does about $4,000 men and boys, that
neither side is yet ready to go into that
feature of the investigation.
The commission has decided to give all
companies who have not yet become a
party to the arbitration commission until
10 o'clock tomorrow morning to file their
answer to President Mitchells original
statement of the miners case.