Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-03-28
MINERS WIN A
Bic VICTORY
Report Of the Anthracite Strike
Commission Is Made
Public.
MEN GET HIGHER WAGES
A Sliding Scale Is Provided,
Based on Coal Prices, for
Three Years.
MEN GET HIGHER WAGES
NoT RECOGNIZED
Commission Says II Has No Authority
to Determine This Point-Reeom-
mends Agreements by Employ
crs Meeting Employee.

Washington, March 23.-The report
of the strike commission was made
public today. 1t is dated March Is and
is signed by all the members of the
commission. 1t covers e~ighty-seven
pages of printed matter.
In brief the commission recommends
a general increase OF ages amounting
in most instances to 10 per cent, and
some decreale in time; the settlement
Of all disputes by arbitration; fixes the
minimum wage, and a sliding scale;
provides against discrimination by
ither the mine owners or miners IN ac-
count Of membership or non-member-
ship In a labor union, and provides that
the awards to be made shall continue
In force until March 81, 1906.
The commission discussed to some ex-
ten the matter OF recognition or non
recognition of the Miners union, but
declined to make any award on this
matter. The commission also makes a
number of recommendations, which
may be summarized as follows: Discon-
%tinuauce of the system Of employing the
coal and iron police" because this
force Is believed to have an irritating
effect; stricter enforcement of the laws
In relation to the employment Of chill
dren; that both state n federal gov
eminent should provide machinery for
making compulsory Investigations OF
difficulties, similar to the investiga-
ton which this commission has made.
The commission, however, takes a de-
cided position against compulsory arbi-
tration.
Sliding Wage Scale.
The increase of 10 per cent. In wages
dates from November l last, and the
rates paid during April, 1902, are the
basis upon which the increase Is made.
During the life of the award the pres
snt methods Of payments for Goa
mined shall be adhered to unless
changed by mutual agreement. The
following sliding scale of wage be-
comes effective April l next:
For each increase of 5 cents In the
average price of White Ash coal of
sizes above pea coal, sold at or near
New York $3.50 per ton, employees
shall hav an increase Of l per cent.
their compensation; but the rate of
compensation shall in no case be less
han that fxed in the award. That Is,
when the price of coal reaches $4.55
per ton the compensation will be in
creased l per cent; to continue until
the price falls below $3.50, when the /
per cent. increase Will cease; or until
the price reaches $4.60 per ton, When
an additional l per cent. Will be added;
and sc on.
These average prices shall be COM
puted monthly by an accountant or
commissioners named by one of the cir
suit judges Of the Third judicial cir
the coal operators such compensation
as the appointing judge may fix.
A large portion Of the report is de-
voted to n review Of the controversy
which led to the presidents action in
the commission, to the APP
itself, and the proceedings
They review In a general
way the production of anthracite coal,
refer to the small area of country in
which 1T is produced, and dwell at
length on market conditions and
prices Of Coal.
Losses by the Strike.
They also refer to the hazardous ma
of anthracite mining, and give an
estimate of losses ~occasioned by the
strike.
These losses they estimate as fol-
owners. $40, 100, 600
employees, in wages........... 5000 900
To transportation companies..... rs, OO0,0C0
The commission takes up the demands
Of the mine workers and answers the
operators, giving in detail the
reasons for the findings. In a general
way they say the conditions of life Of
mine workers outside the mines do not
to their full extent, the adj
verse criticisms made by their represen-
They also find that social con-
ditions in mining communities are good.
They fail to find wage so low among
the miners as necessarily to force them
TO put their small children to work.
The commission also finds the average
lay rate of earnings in the anthracite
HnnC not nnY,nnrA II, ~ Htn ~a 11xy |
With that In other industries.
Commissions Great Task.
The commission says, in making
heir investigation, they have done
whatever 1t was practicable to do to
themselves with the condi-
ions which brought about the strike,
they have made the following sum-
of their work:
They have gone through mines and
inspected various conditions which the
of anthracite involves; they
lave visited breakers, engine houses
md pumping stations; examined the
by which miners are pro-
ected from water II foul air; have
with miners at their work and
n their homes; ave given attention to
economic, domestic, scholastic and
eligiouS phases of their lives. They
lave listened to and directed the ex-
and cross-eXamination of
SIS witnesses; they have given free
cope to counsel who represented the
perators, ~non-union men and miners;
nd they have devoted an entire week
o hearing their arguments.
The commissioners also say while
here have been differences of opinion
.mong themselves, there has never
'een a time during the five months
of the commission when there '
vas an unpleasant word spoken among
hem, cor any indication whatever of
thought or desire OF aught save the
and justice"
AS to Recognizing Union.
On the subject of the recognition OF
mine workers union, the commits
ion say they do not consider thai this
5 within the scope and jurisdiction