The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1903-03-27
RESULT COAL STRIKE REPORTED
Commission Made Their Decision
Public Saturday.
both sides Claim a Eictory-8Eost OF the
Contentious Decided in Favor Of the
BIiner-ReoOgnitiOn OF the Union
Not Held by the Commission.

Not Held by the Commission
The long expected report Of the an
thraeite coal strike commission vas
made public last Saturday. It provides
for ten per cent increase in wages to
contract miners and the reduction of the
hours Of labor Of other mine workers.
Water hosting engineers are to work
eight hour shifts and have an increase
Of ten per scent in wages. Other en-
gineers snd pump men are to have FIVE
per cent increase. Firemen are TO have
eight hour shifts without increase of
wages. Other mine workers are to have
the same wages for nine hour day as
formerly paid for ter hour day.
A board Of Cancellation is provided
for to settle disputes, the commission TO
consist Of three members each appointed
BY the mine operators and miners or
CARNATIONS and an umpire in case of q
tie, appointed by one Of the circuit
judges Of the judicial district.
The miners union was not recognized.
There was no compulsory payment by
weight. Check weighmen were provided
for and their wages to be paid by the
miners requiring their appointment.
There was to be no discrimination
against the miners belonging to the
union by the coal companies, and no in
reference with non union men by mem
bers Of the union.
The awards made shall continue in
force until March 81, 1906. The entire
report Of the commission comprises 81
printed pages Of $1,000 words. Particu-
lar stress is laid by members upon the
fact that its findings are unanimous. A
large part Of the report is devoted to a
history of the strike and review
Of tine conditions prevailing in the an
thracite regions.
One chapter deals with the losses Oc-
casiOned by the strike. The total de-
crease in production is estimated at s46,-
100000. The total loss in wages S25,-
O35,OOO. There was expended about 81
$4,000 in relief funds and total decrease
in freight receipts is placed at SIS, OOO,-
600.
Aggregate loss, therefore, is approx
mately 800, 100000.
The taking Of testimony was begun at
Scranton, Pa, November IA. and from
that date on sessions were practically
continuous in Scranton, Philadelphia
and Washington.
Congress approved the presidents
action by passing an enabling act and
appropriating $4,000 which was more
than ample to cover the commissions
expenses. Seven hundred witnesses
were heard whose testimony aggregated
100000 words.
The commission finds that the cOndi-
tons of the life of the mine workers
outside the mines do not justify the con-
tentiOn to its full extent that its annual
earnings of the miners are insufficient to
maintain the American standard of liv-
ing; the commission also finds that the
social conditions obtained in a CON-
munity made up Of miners are good.
The contention Of the miners that the
wages of the contract miners are so low
as to force children into the breakers
and mills is declared to be not fully sus-
tanned. The commission does not find
that the wages of the contract miner in
the anthracite fields are lower than those
in bituminOus fields.
THE average daily rate Of earnings y
the report states, 'dOes not compare IN
fEvOrably With that in other industries
requiring skill and training
The annual earnings Of contract min
ers range between $3.50 aud $500.
The report condemns the boycott.
The anthracite coal strike commission
was composed of Brigadier- General
John NJ. Wilson, U. S. A, retired, of
Washington; E. W. Parker, Of Washing
ton. expert mining engineer; Judge
George Gray, of Wilmington, Del, Of the
United States district court; E. NJ
Clark, OF Cedar Rapids, Ia, grand chief
Of the Order of Railway Conductors;
Thomas H. Watkins. of Scranton, Pa,
practical miner and wholesaler Of coal;
Bishop John M Spaulding, Of Peoria,
ILL.,; Carroll D. Wright, commissioner Of
labor, member and recorder Of the com
mission.
The appointment of this body was
made by President Roosevelt on Octo-
Der Is. last. The first meeting was held
in Washington, October "a, when Judge
Gray was chosen chairman. The first
public hearing was October q.
The mine owners viii have 10 pay
100000 back wages to miners and
the annual increase Of wages to 10000
miners will amount to 100000.
Piano for sale OF Trade.
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