Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-03-28
MINERS WAGES RAISED
Strike Commission Grants Them
Ten Per Cent. Increase.
THE UNION IS NOT RECOGNIZED

ing Scale and Cancellation Board
and Are to Continue In Force Until
March 81, 1905.
Washington, March 23.-The report
OF the commission appointed by the
president last October to investigate
the anthracite coal strike was made
public Saturday The report is dated
March 1s. and is signed by all the
members of the commission, who are
Juoge Gray, of Delaware; Labor Com.
missioner Carroll d. Wright and Briga.
der General John NJ Wilson. both OF
this city; Bishop John L. Spalding. of
Illinois; Thomas H Watkins. of Penn.
sylVania; Edward w. Parker, of this
city, and Edgar E. Clark, of Iowa.
Two OF the principal demands OF
the miners, for an increase in wages
! and shorter work day, are granted.
Straight Increase of 10 Per Cent.
Following is the commissions own
summary OF the awards made:
1. That an increase of 10 per cent
over and above the rates paid in the
month OF April, 1902, be paid to all
contract miners for cutting coal. ward
ade and other work for which standard
rates or allowances existed at that
time, and from and after November l..
19O2, and during the life of this award.
The amount Of increase under the
award due for work done between No
Vember L, 1902, and April l, 1903, to be
paid on or before June 1, 1903.
z. That engineers who are EMPLOYED
in hosting water shall have an in
crease of 10 per cent. on their earn
ings between November /, 1902, and
April 1, 1903, to be paid on or before
June i, 1903; and from and after April
L, 1903, and during the life of the
award they shall have eight-hour
shifts, with the same pay which was
effective liz April 1902, and where they
are now working eight-hour shifts. the
eight-hour shifts shall be continued.
and these engineers shall have an in
crease of 10 per cent. on the wages
which were effective in the several no.
sitions in April, 1902.
Hosting engineers and other engi.
neerS and pump men. other than those
employed in hosting water. who are
employed in positions which are
manned continuously, shall have an in
c-easc 90 20 Per cent. CO chsiE earn
ings between November 1, 1902. and
April 1, 1903, and from and after
April 1, 1903. they shall have an in
crease OF per cent. on the rates OF
wages which were effective in the sew
eral 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.
That firemen shall have an increase
inc \
tween November 1. 1902, and April l.
1903, TO be 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 wages per day, week or month
as were paid in each position in April.
1902
All company men other than those
FOX whom the CON mission makes spe-
Clal awards snail De pa rease
oI 10 per cent. on their earnings he
tween November l, 1902, aud April l
1908, to be paid on or before June
1908. and from and after April 1, 1903,
and during the life OF this award, they
shall be paid on the basis OF a nine
hour day, receiving therefor the same
wages as were paid in April, 1902, for
a ten-hour day. Overtime in excess OF
proportional rate per hour.
3. During the life of this award the
present methods of payment for coal
mined shall be adhered to unless
changed by mutual agreement
Board of Cancellation.
4. Any difficulty or disagreement
arising under this award, either as to
Its Interpretation or application. or in
any way growing out of the relations
of the employers and employed, which
cannot be settled or adjusted by con-
sultation between the superintendent
or manager of the mine or mines. and
the miner or miners directly interest
ed, or is of scope too large to be set
tied or adjusted, shall be referred to
a permanent joint committee, to be
called board of Cancellation, to con-
sist of six persons. That is to say, If
there shall be a division of the whole
region into three districts, in each of
which there shall exist an organiza-
ton representing a majority of the
mine workers of such district, one of
said board Of Cancellation snail be ap-
pointed by each of said organizations,
and three other persons shall be ap.
pointed by the operators, the operators
In each of said districts appointing
one person. If however. the said
board is unable to decide any question
submitted, or point related thereto,
that question or point snail be referred
to an umpire. to be appointed, at the
request of said board, by one Of the
circuit judges of the third judicial cir
cult Of the United States. whose de-
cision shall be final and binding in the
premises.
No suspension of work shall take
place by lockout or strike, pending the
adjudication of any matter so taken up
for adjustment
Check WeiGhmen.
D. Whenever requested by q ma
jority of the contract miners of any
colliery, check weighmen or check
docking bosses, or both, shall be EN-.
ployed. The wages of said check
weighmen and check docking bosses
shall be fixed, collected. and paid by
the miners in such manner as the said
miners shall by a majority vote elect |
and when requested by majority OF
saio miners, the operators shall pay
the wages fixed for check weighmen
and check docking bosses out of de |
auctions made proportionately from