Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-21

Washington, March 21.-The report
Of the strike commission was made
public today. 1t is dated March is,
yjgned by all the members of the COM
mission and covers eighty seven pages
of printed matter In brief the COM
mission recommends q general increase
Df wages amounting in most instances
to 10 per cent; some decrease of time.
and settlement of all disputes by arbi-
tration fixes a minimum wage and
sliding scale: provides against discrim-
ination Of persons by either mine own
ers or miners on account of member
ship or non membership In labor un-
be made shall continue in force until
March 81, 1906. The commission dis
cussed to some extent the matter OF
recognition or non-recognition of the
miners union, but declined to make
any award on this matter. The COM
mission also makes number of rec
concentrations which may be sum-
married. as follows:
Discontinuance OF the system of en-
ploying coal and iron police, because
this force is believed to have an ir-
fritating effect.
Stricter enforcement of laws IN re-
lation to employment of children.
That the state and federal govern
ment provide the machinery for making
or compulsory Investigations of diff
culties similar to the investigation
which this commission has made.
The commission however takes de-
s rided position against compulsory ar
bitration.
The increase OF 10 per cent in wages
dates from the first of November last,
and the rates paid during April, 1907.
are the basis upon which the increase
is made.
During the life of the award the
present methods of paymen. for coal
mined shall be adhered TO. unless
changed by mutual agreement.
The Sliding Scale.
The following sliding scale of wages
becomes effective April 1, next.
For each increase of cents In the
average price Of white ash coal of sizes
above pea COAL sold at or near New
York. above $3.50 pertton, the employees
ehall have an increase of per cent.
IN their compensation which shall con-
tinue until a change in the average
price of said coal works a reduction or
increase in the said additional COM
pensation hereunder; but the rate OF
compensation shall in no case be less
than that fixed in the award. That Is.
when the price of coal reaches S4.oo
per ton, the compensation Will pe IN
creased / per cent to continue until the
price falls below $3.50, when the l per
cent increase will cease, or until the
price reaches $3.50 per ton, when an
additional per cent will be added and
so on. These average prices shan ne
computed monthly by an accountant
or commissioner named by one of the
circuit Judges of the third judicial cir
cuit of the United States and paid by
the coal operators such COMPENSATION
MS the appointing judge may fix.
Work Of the Commission.
A large portion of the report is de-
voted to a review OF the controversy
which led to the presidents action In
appointing the commission. to the ap-
pointment itself and the proceedings OF
the committee. They review in gen
eral way the production of anthracite
coal and refer to the small area OF
country in which 1t is produced, and
dwell at some length on the market
conditions and prices of coal. They also
refer to the hazardous nature of the
anthracite coal mining and give an es-
t;nate of the losses occasioned by the
strike. those losses they estimate as
follows:
Strike Losses.
Mine owners, S46,100.G00
Mine employees in wages, s25' 'ooo,ooo'
TRANSPORTATION companies, S2s,ooo,-
O00
Mining Conditions.
The commission takes up the demands
Of the mine workers and the answers
of the mine operators giving IN detali
reasons for the findings. In general
way they say the conditions and HE OF
mine workers outside the mines do not
Justify to their full exfeut the adverse
criticisms made by their representa-
tives. They also find social conaltlons'
IN the mining communities are good
gThey fail to find wages so low among
the miners as necessarily to force them
to nut their small children to work. Ihe
commission also finds the average DAY
rate OF earnings in the anthracite re-
eion does not compare unfavoraniy
with that in other industries.
The commissioners say in making
their investigation they have done
whatever it was practicable to do t.
aauaint themselves with the conditions
which brought about the strike ano
they make the following summary D
E their work:
They have gone thru the mines and
inspected the various conditions which
the production of anthracite coal in
wolves. They have visited breakers. en-
CINE houses and pumping stations.
examined machinery by which miners
are protected from wate. and foul air:
a have talked with miners at their work
and in their homes They have given
attention to the economic, domestic
scholastic and religious phases OF theii
lives. They have listeced to and d.
rscted an examination and cross
examination of sos witnesses. They
have given free scope &c counsel who
represented the operators. nom union