The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1903-03-27

sessions since its creation by Presi-
dent Roosevelt, has finished its
labors and made its report. The
miners have made substantial gains,
among other being an advance Of
ten per cent. IN wages, nine hour day
to company men, and eight hour day
to engineers and punpmen and fire
men. In addition to this, the Com
mission DEGREES that where the
miners Of any operation may demand
Il check weighman, the company shall
employ one. Aboard ofConciliation
is also provided for to settle all dis
putes arising out of the interpreted
ton of the award ofthe Commission.
The principal point that the miners
commended for was that operators
should recognize and deal directly
with the United Mine Workers of
America. This was most bitterly re-
sisted by the operators. This issue
the committee decided in favor of the
operators, pointing out that the
United Mine Workers of America, as
all organization, was not a party to
the arbitration, and that under the
term Of the submission, the Commits
sion would not be justified in decree
ing that the organization should be
recognized. The Commission, how
ever, discusses the question of labor
organizations atconsiderable length,
and SAYS that it is inclined favorably
to "the doctrine ofcouective bargain
ings" but thinks that tie United Mine
Workers OF America "does not pre-
sent the most inviting inducements
to the operators to enter into con-
tractual relations with it."
An interesting feature of the strike
is the statistics showing the losses
sustained by operators and wage
carriers. Comparing statistics with
last year the decrease in number of
tons mined is 24,6O+,462 long tons.
At the prices received in 1901 this
would amount to SIC, 100000. As
sumirg that the average wage cost
to be about $1.25 per ton on market
able coal, and allowing for the wages
paid to engineers, pumpmen and
others, who remained at work dur
ing the strike, the employees lost in
wages a total of $25,OOO,OOO. The
report is unanimous being signed by
all the members of the Commission
and is to hold in force until 1906.
MR. HARRY ON MARYLAND CONSTR
TUITION OF 1851.
The following review by Herman
Y. Ames, University OF Pennsylvania,
appears in the Annals of the Ameri-
can Academy of Political and Social
Science, Philadelphia, March, 1908.
The Maryland Constitution of
1881. By James ". Harry. Johns
Hopkins University Studies in His
storical and Political Science. Series
Xxx. Nos. IS. Baltimore 1902.
This monograph adds another ex-
cellent chapter to the several already
contributed by the students Of Johns
Hopkins University on the consti-
tutional history of Maryland. The
present study deals with the period
1886 to 1851, in three chapters.
The first traces the agitation for con-
stitutional reform which eliminated
in the convention of 1S5O-51; the
second treats Of the proceedings of
the convention, and the third
analyses the completed constitution
and compares it with the one it sup
crseded. The sectional jealousy and
the conflicting interests of the East
ern aud Western Shores, especially
those growing out of slavery and
the rivalry of the commercial and
agricultural communities and the de-
mand Of the growing city of Balti-
more for increased representation,
led to the presentation ofaprovision
to enable any portion Of the State to
sccede and Unite its territory with
such adjoining States as its inhabi-
tants might elect. This attempt of
the Eastern Shore to make its seces-
sion possible was defeated by a vote
of 81 to 81. AS a concession to local
interests the State continued to be
divided into three districts for the
election Of governor, who was to be
chosen from each district i'll rotation.
The completed constitution pleased
no one; however it was ratified by
the people. The author regards it
"as rather q poor instrument
there were some salutary
reforms made" This is an intelligent
and instructive contribution interest
ingly presented.
(AIr. Harry, the author, is from
Hartford county. He read this
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