The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-22
Commission Decides It Has No
Jurisdiction Over the Lat-
Ter Question
AS A WHOLE THE VERDICT
LEANS TOWARD MINERS
While There Are No Praises for the
Strikers, They Get the Substantial
Benefit-operators Receive
Some Compliments.

Washington, March A.-The report of
the commission appointed by the Presi-
dent last October to investigate the an
thracite coal strike, was made public to-
day
The report is dated March 49, and is
signed by all the members of the COM
mission, who are Judge Gray of Dele
ware Labor Commissioner Carroll D.
Wright and Brigadier- General John NJ.
Wilson, both of this city; Bishop John
l.. Spaulding of Illinois, Thomas H. Wat
kns of Pennsylvania, E. E. Clark of Ce-
dar Rapids and Edward w. Parker Of
this city.
The report is to be Illustrated and 1t
will be accompanied by the testimony
taken by the commission, but thus far
only the report proper has been printed
This alone covers eighty-seven pages of
printed matter
Summary.
Following is the commissions own
summary of the awards made
That an increase of 10 per cent
over and above the rate paid in the
month of April 1902 be paid to all con-
tract miners for cutting coal. yardage
and other work for which standard rates
or allowance existed at that time. from
and after November. /, 1902, and during
the life of this award due for work done
between November /, 1902 and April l,
1908, to be paid on or before June 1, 1903
Second-That engineers employed in
hoisting water shall have an increase
of 10 per cent on their earnings between
Nosrr rf.aI,f, =.
paid on or before June /, 1903, and from
and after April |, 1903, and during the life
of the award they shall have eight hour
shifts, with the same pay which was ef-
fective in April, 1902; and where they are
now working eight-hour shifts the eight
hour shifts shall have ar increase of 10
per cent on the wages which were effec-
tive in the several positions in April, 1902
Engineers and Pumpmen.
Hosting engineers and other engineers
and pumpmen. other than those employed
In hosting water. who are employed in
positions which are manned continuous
ly, shall have an increase of 10 per cent
on their earnings between November l.
1902 and April 1. 1903 to be paid on or be-
fore June l, 1903; and from and after
April l, 1903, and during the life of the
award they shall have an increase of 5
per cent on the rates Of wages which
were eHectVe IN the several positions in
April 1902 and in addition they shall be
relieved from duty on Sundays without
loss of pay by a man provided by the
employer to relieve them during the hours
of the day shift.
The Firemen.
That fremen shall have an increase of
10 per cent on their earnings between No
vember /, 1902, and April /, 1908. to be paid
hafo
after April L. 1909, an during the life of
the award. they shall have eight-hour
shifts with the same wages per day,
week or month were paid In each DO
sition in April. 1902
Other Employees.
All employees or company men, other
than those for whom the commission
makes special awards, shall be paid an
increase of 10 per cent on their earnings
between November l. 1902, and April /.
1903 to be paid on or before June l. 1903;
and from and after April l, 1903, and dur
Ing the life of this award they shall be
paid on a basis of a nine-hour day, re-
ceiving therefor the same wages that
were paid in April, 1902, for ten-hour
day. Overtime in excess of nine hours In
any day to be paid at a proportionate
rate per hour.
During the life of this award
the present methods of payment for coal
mined shall be adhered to until changed
by mutual agreement In all of the above
awards 1t is provided that allowances like
those made shall be paid to the legal
representatives of such employees as NAV
have died since November l. 1902
A Board of Cancellation.
Any difficulty or disagreement arising
under this award. either as to its
Interpretation or application, or In anv
WI of ho
employers and employed, which cannot
be settled or adjusted by consultation he
tween the superintendent or manager of
the mine or mines and the miner or
miners directly interested. or is of scope
too large to be settled or adjusted, shall
be referred to a permanent joint COM
mission to be called a board of conciia-
tion. to consist of six persons, appointed
as hereinafter provided. That is to saw.
If there shall be a division of the whole
region into three districts in each Of
which there shall exist an organization
representing a majority of the mine work.
ers of such district, of said board of
conciliation. shall be appointed by each
of said organizations and three other
persons shall be appointed by the oper-
ators the operators in each of said dis
tricts appointing one person.
U. S. Judge as Umpire.
The board of concliation thus consti-
tuted, shall take up and consider any
question referred to 1t as aforesaid. hear
ing both parties to the controversy and
such evidence as may be laid before 1t
by either party; and any award made by
a majority of such board shall be final
and binding on all parties. If, however,
the said board is unable to decide any
question submitted. point related there
to, that question or point shall be refer
red to an umpire, to be appointed, at the
request of the board. by one of the cir
cult Judges of tho Third judicial circuit
of the United States, whose decision shall
be final and binding in the premises.
The membership of said board shall at
all times be kept complete, either the
operators or miners organization having
the right at any time when controversy