The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1903-03-27
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. c., March %. d.

WASHINGTON, D. c., March 23Id.
MIR. EDITOR:-The decision of the An
thracite Coal Strike Commission has just
been made public and will doubtless be
regarded as a victory for the miners, moi
only that it awards to them the increase
in wages for which they originally struck,
but in that it refutes the economic propo-
sitions advanced by President Baer and
other mine operators. On this subject
the Commission says, Undoubtedly the
proposition that men who own the prop
erty and carry on the business must con-
troll it is generally true and its mainte-
nance is necessary to the political and
economical welfare of society; but it is
also true that where business is of such
magnitude and its physical conditions are
such as to constitute natural monopoly,
it is affected with public interest which
cannot be ignored by those who control
it," While submitting that they. do not
feel authorized, under existing conditions,
to advocate compulsory arbitration the
Commissioners recommend a law pro-
posed by Charles F. Adams which pro-
vides for federal Intervention in time of
extensive conflicts between employers
and employees.
The specific awards of the Commission,
by which both operators and minels are
bound, give to the latter general 10 per
cent. increase in wages beginning with
November, 1902 Men employed nine
hours are to be paid on a ten hour basis
and provision is made for an increase in
wages of per cent. for every cent in
crease in the wholesale price Of coal, above
81 so per ton for pea coal. The average
price of coal is to be determined by a
commissioner appointed by a United
States Circuit Judge and paid by the oper-
ators The miners are permitted all the
check weighers they may demand, but
they are to be paid at the miners expense.
Any increase in the size Of miners cars
is to be met with proportionate increase
in wages 1t is further provided that all
disputes arising during the period for
which the Commission makes its awards
shall be adjudicated by a Joint concilia-
tory committee" to consist Of six members,
three to be appointed by the operators and
three by the miners. In the event that an
agreement cannot be reached by this
evenly divided committee, the committee
shall select a seventh member who shall
cast the deciding vote. No discrimina-
ton shall be made against union or nom
union miners and all awards shall stand
until March 3lst, 1906.
The special session of the Senate of the
Fifty-eighth Congress has adjourned, after
ratifying the Panama and Cuban treaties.
Attention now turns to the action OF
Colombia on the canal treaty and the
magnitude of the undertaking to which
the United States has committed itself.
1t is estimated by those who believe in the
success of the agreement that about the
autumn of 1904 some 5000 negroes, armed
with spades and picks, will invade the
isthmus of Panama and begin digging.
IL ID OAHU Wy tAO Vh1o ~V,ooV WIZ
be a minimum force of laborers and that
as high as $4,000 may be employed at
times. There are now about 1000 men
at work under the French company
and every foot of ground for the canal
has been broken. There is no contract
labor law which applies to the isthmus
and doubtless negroes from all the West
Indian islands will be imported and few
may 60 from the United States, alth ough
those already acclimated will be given
preference as the amount of sickness will
thus be materially diminished. Labor on
the isthmus commands from 40 to SO cents
per day. There are now on the route of
the canal two thoroughly equipped hospi-
tails and these will doubtless be kept full
to overlooking as none but Americans
will be given the higher grades of work.
All details of the construction will be de-
termined by the Isthmian Canal Commits