Potosi journal., 1903-03-25
THE STRIKE commission.
Digest of the Voluminous Repor'
of the Presidents Anthracite
Strike Commission.
BETTER CONDITIONS FOR the MINERS,
The Rights of All WOrkmen. Wheth-
er They Belong to the Union or
Not. Must be Respected, and All
Discrimination II PositiveIy For-
hidden,

Of the commission appointed by the
president. last October, to Investigate
the anthracite coal strike was made
public Saturday.
Following is the commits sicn's own
summary Of the awards made:
l. That an increase Of ten per cent.
over and above the rates paid in the
month Of April, 1892. be paid to all con-
tract miners for cutting coal, yardage
and other work for which standard rates
or allowances existed at that time. from
ana after November l, 1892, and during
the lie of this award. The amount of in
crease under the award due for work done
between November J. 1867 and April /.
1873. to be paid on or before June / 1868
ii. That engineers who are employed in
Eoisting water shall have an increase of
ten per cent on their earnings between
November ], 1872 and April l. 1903. to be
paid on OF before June l, 1853; and from
and after April /, 1893 and during the life
OF the award, they shall have eight-hour
shifts, with the same pay which was ef-
fcctive in April. 1862, and where they are
now working eight-hour shifts the eight
hour shifts shall nave an increase Of ten
per cent. on the wages which were effec-
tive in the several positions in April. 1872
Ioisting engineers and other engineers
and pump men, other than those en-
tl"yed in positions which are manned
continuously. shall have an increase Of
ten pcT cent. on their earnings between
November J. 1862, and April J. 1915. to be
paid before juno ]. 1898: and from
and after April !, 1905. and during the
life OF the award. tney snail have an in
crease of five per cent on the rates Of
wages which were effective in the sew
eral positions in April 1872; and in addi-
ton they shall be relieved from duty on
sundays. without loss of pay. by man
provided hy the employer to relieve them
during the hours OF the day shift That
iiremcn shall have an increase of ten per
cent. on their earnings between Novem-
Der, 1872 and April J. 1893 to be paid on
or before june J. 1873, and from and after
April /, 1898. and during the life of the
award, they shall have eight-honr shifts,
month, were paid in each position in
April, 1862, all employees or company men,
other than those for whom TN. commits
sion makes special awards, snail be paid
an increase of ten per cent. on their earn
ings between November !. 1%'2 and April
J: 1853, to be paid on or, before June l;
during the life OF this award they shall
be paid on the basis of a nine-hour day,
were paid in Aprl. 1902. for a ten-hour
day. Overtime in excess Of nine hours
in any day to be paid at proportional
rate per hour.
III. During the life of this award the
present methods of payment for coal
mined shall be adhered to unless changed
In all of the abov- wards ii is provided
that allowances lik. rose made shall be
raid to the legal representatives Of such
employees as may have died since Novem-
Der ], 1902.
". Any difficulty or disagreement aris-
Ing under this award. either to its in
terpretation ar application, or In any way
growing out Of the relations of the EN-.
pIoyers and employed which can not be
settled or adjusted by consultation be-
tween the superintendent the manager
of the mine or the mines. and the miner
q the miners directly Interested. or Is
Of d scope too large TO be settled ad.
joint committee to be called board OF
conciliation, to consist Of six persons. ap-
pointed as hereinafter provided. That Is
to say. If there shall be division of the
whole region into three districts in each
of which there shall exist an orsaniza-
ton representing majority OF the mine
workers of such district, one of said
board Of conciliatton shall be appointed
by each of said organizations ana three
other persons shall be appointed by the
operators. the operators in each of said
districts appointing one person.
The board of concliation thus consti.
tuted shall take up and consider any
question referred to it as aforesaid, hear.
ing both parties to the controversy. anc
such evidence as may be laid before il
by either party: and any award made by
a majority of such board of conciiatior
shall BE- final and binding on all parties
r. however, the said board is unable tt
decide any question submitted of poin
related thereto, that question or point
pointed. at the request of said board. BY
one Of 'hs circuit judges of the thirC
jndicial circuit nt me United states
In tho premises. The mem berShip of Sai
hoard shall at all times be kept com
picte either the operators or miners or
GaniZations having the right, at any time
when a controversy is not pending Il
change their representation thereon. A
all hearings before said board the par
ties may be represented by such persor
persons as they may respectively Sc
lect. No suspension of work shall tak'
place by lockout or strike, pending th'
adjudication Of any matter so taken W
for adjustment.
V. Whenever requested by majority o
the contract miners Of any coliery. checl
weighmen or CheCk-doCking bosses. o.
both shall be employed. The wages o
said check weighmen and check-dockins
bosses shall be fixed. collected and paiC
by the miners in such manner as tn
said miners shall by 4 majority vote elect
and when requested by majority o
wages fixed for check weigmmen an'
ChnCk-dockng bosses out ot deductions
made rroportionateiy from the earning;
NJ II" said miners on such basis as IN
majority Of said miners shall determine.
VI Mine cars shall he distributed anon;
miners. who are at work. nniforml,
and as equitahly a. possible. and ther
shall be 10 concerted effort on the par
Of the miners or mine workers Of AN,
Co'iiery Collieries to limit the outpu
rf the mines or to detraCt from tn
Quality of the work performed unles
~ - an agreement between an operate
~ operators and an organization repre-
sentins a majority of said miners IN hi
or their employ.
VII In AL cases where miners are pan
~ the car. the increase awarded To tn
contract miners is based upon the car
in use, the topping required and III
rates paid per car which was in fore
on April !. 1872. ANY increase in the siz
Of the car. or in the topping required
shall be accompanied by proportional
increase in the rate paid per car.
VIII. The following sliding scale Q
wages shall become effective April
1893. and shall affect all miners and min
workers Included III the awards Of n
commission; The wages liked IN III
awards shall be the basis OF. and the min
inum under the sliding scale:
For each increase "f ii:r cents in III
average price Of white ash coal OF size
above pea coal; sold at or near NJ,
water and reported to the bureau of an
thracite coal statistics. above $40 pc
ton for Il. the employees shall have an in
crease Of one per cent. in this compens.,
'tun. which shall continue until 4 chang
in 'he average of said coal works Il reiuc
tion or an increase in said additional com
persation hereunder; but the rate of com
pcnsation shall in case be less tina
that fixed in the award. That is, whe
the price of coal reaches S.55 per tor
the Compensation will be Increased on
Per cent. to continue until the price ran
below $3.50 per ton, when the one pc
cent. increase will cease until IN
price reaches ST. per ton. when an add
tional one per cent. will be added. an
60 on These average prices shall Q
computed monthly by an accountant @
commissioner named by one of the clI
cult judges Of the third circuit court c
the United States and paid by the Goa
operators, such compensation as the ar
pointing Judge may nix, which compensa
tion shall be distributed among the or
orators in proportion to the tonnage &
each mine.
-. In order that the basis may be laid fo
the successful working of the slid1n
scale provided herein, it Is also adjudge