The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-03-24

versy which led to the present agita-
ton in appointing to the commission |
to the appointment itself and to the
proceedings of the commission during |
it's existence. They review in a gen.
eral way the production of anthracite !
coal, refer to the small area of coun-
try in which it is produced and dwell
at some length on the market condi-
tions and the price of coal. They also
refer to the hazardous nature of an
thracite coal mining and give an esti-
mate of the losses occassioned bv the
strike These losses they estimate
as follows:
AS to mine owners, $46,100,000; to
the mine employees, in wages, $25, ,OO0,-
900; to the transportation companies,
$28,OOO,OOO The commission say that
in making their investigation they
have done whatever it was practical
tC do to acquaint themselves with the
conditions which brought about the
strike, and they make the following
summary of their work: They have
gone through the mines and inspected
theEvarious conditions which the pro-
duciion of anthracite coal involves;
they have visited the breakers, the
engine houses and the pumping sta
tons; they have examined the ma
chinery by which the mines are pro-
tected from water and foul air; they
| have talked with the miners at their
work and in their homes, and they
have given attention to the economic,
domestic. scholastic and religious
nhases of their lives; they have listen
ed to and directed the examination
and cross examined 558 witnesses;
they have given free scope to the coun'
sci who represented the operators, the
non-union men and the miners, ana
they have devoted an entire week to
! hearing their arguments.
Differences of Opinion.
The commissioners also say that
while there have been differences OF
opinion among themselves, there new
er, has been time during the five
months of the existence OF the com
mission when there was an unpleas
ant work spoken among them, "or any
indication whatever of thought .or de
sire Of aught save truth and justice
The commission then takes up the
demands of the mine workers and the
answers of the mine operators, CIV
ing in detail the reasons for the nno
ings. In a general way they say tina
the conditions of the life OF mine
worker outside of the mines does no
Justify to the full extent the adverse
criticisms made by their representa-
tiyes. They also find that the socla
conditions in the mining communltle
are good and they fail to find that tn
!, wages are so low among the miner
as necessarily to force them to pu
their small children to work. The com
mission also finds that the averag
daily rate of earnings in the anthra
cite regions does not compare favol
, ably with that in other industries.
On the subject Of the recognition G
!, the mine workers union, the comml'
:, sion say they do not consider tina
this subject is within the scope OF tn
jurisdiction conferred on them. The
do say. however, that "the suggest1o
;, OF working agreement between en-
ployes and employers embodying tn
g doctrine of collective bargaining
i, one which the commission believe col
. tains many hopeful elements for tn
= adjustment of relations"
Further on they say: "The pre-
ent constitution of the United Mil
:, Workers of America does not presel
the most inviting inducements to tn
operators to enter into contractu
relations with them"