The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-06
BEHIND BARRICADED DOORS.
THE COAL STRIKE COMMISSION
IN SECRET SESSION.

O0e u inc OOOfU naTTbC0Ut0 WIN IoUtC
and IN Irsu Crattng Pulled Acress the
Doorway and Lecked-1he Question
Discussed was whether the Miners
should he Paid BY Car or by weight.
WASHINGTON, March SAN important
conference between the anthracite GOAL
strike commission and representatives OF
the miners and mine operators was held
behind closed doors here to-day for the
purpose Of securing an agreement upon
method for the payment Of miners In
the anthracite coal region. Unusual pre-
cautions were taken to prevent any in
formation leaking out, and 1t was an
nounced that no statement as to what
transpired would be made public. There
are two entrances to the audience chamber.
where the conference was held, and TO
guard against any unlimited person being
present one OF the doors was barricaded
with a large table and an iron grating on
the inside Of the room was pulled across
the doorway and locked. At the main
entrance Q doorkeeper warned every one
away unless they happened to have been
summoned.
These precautions were ordered by
Commissioner Carroll D. Wright the re-
COTQeI, WHO ucCtdIto I'M hPo "S'N
scaled by order OF the commission, as 1t
was not intended that the public should
learn what transpired at the hearing. Com
missioner Wright explained that 1t might
not be well to stir up the miners by any
publicity Of the details Of the subject under
consideration. At first he refused to say
what that subject was, but later the COM
mission authorized the statement that II
referred to payment for mining coal by
weight rather than by car. This Is one
OF the most important questions before
the commission and the members wanted
TO be certain that the plan which they pro-
posed would meet with the approval OF
both the miners and the operators. There
was considerable surprise when 1t became
evident that neither side approved OF the
new scheme.
After a special vote Of the commission,
it was determined to make public the fol-
lowing list OF persons summoned here to
take part In the discussion: John Nit
chell, John Fahey, Thomas d. Nichols,
VIII. Dettry and Walter e. Weyl, represent
ing the miners; s. p. wolverton Of the Phila-
delphia and Reading Coal and Iron Com
many, Francis /. Gowen OF the Lehigh VAL
lev Coal Company. James H. Torrey Of the
Delaware and Hudson Company, Everett
Warren OF the Delaware, Lackawanna and
Western. Temple Iron Company, Hillside
Coal and Iron Company. and Pennsyi-
yania Coal Company; A. H. McClintock OF
the Lehigh and Wilkes Barre Coal Company,
John p. Kerr Of the Scranton Coal Company.
and Samuel Dickson. Ira h Burns and 4 c.
REYNOLDS, counsel for the independent
The conference was opened with the
announcement by Judge Gray, chairman
Of the commission. that the proposed 90
cents uniform minimum payment per ton
was impracticable, because II would mean
an increase In some instances of as much
as 500 per cent He added that, in view OF
the provisions Of the statute OF Pennsyl-
vania OF 1875 regarding the payment OF
miners the commission had requested the
representatives Of the miners and operators
TO come to Washington for a consultation.
There was some discussion OF this statute
and it was agreed by both sides that. ire.
spective Of the statute, the operators and
miners would consider themselves bound
nv the award Of the commission.
Judge Gray then explained that the COM
mission, after considerable discussion and
consideration. had prepared q plan for the
payment Of miners whereby the basis ~ the
car price paid should be supplemented oy a
system whereby the number OF mine cars
would be divide by the total tonnage loaded
in the shipping cars, and In case this tonnage
should exceed In tonnage the amount paid
upon the car price such amount In excess
OF the price paid per car should be distrib-
uted in the nature OF dividend. The pur-
nose Of the commssions plan, II was added.
was TO preserve the car system and at the
same time to encourage the miner to load
pure coal and a greater amount In the mine
cars.
In the opinion Of many of the repre-
sentatives present, the new scheme was
too complex. and IL was with much diff
ficulty that the commission was able TO
have IL clearly understood by some OF
the lawyers present. Those who did COM
prehend Il answered that there was no pro-
vision in the plan whereby. In case the car
average fell below the average a. ascer-
tanned by the division mentioned. the oper-
ator would he compensated for the de-
crease. In other words. II provided for
extra compensation for the miner, should
the average be exceeded, but did not com
pensate the operator II the quantity fell
below the fixed average.
To the surprise Of the commission. not
only was the plan Objectionable TO the
OPERATOR. but Il did not find favor with
the representatives Of the miners, who.
while insisting that under any circum-
stanoes they would abide by the award
objections. John Mitchell had little TO
say. buf Mr.. Nichols strongly objected 10
the plan and agreed with Mitchell that the
miners wanted the Weighing Of the cars
as tbey teIt tne fntne ana pdyHitft 10y Weiknt
for the mining product. In the discussion
that ensued the miners representativ ~
admitted that payment by weight in
the manner desired was not possible In
pitching veins and where breakers were
constructed In such a way as To prevent II.
The operators opposed the plan for o
numher Of stated reasons. IL was argued
that the scbeme was inequitable, since u
was beneficial To bu, one side. and that
the minen who loaded their can fairly.
~ With reference Ia quantity and purity
Of the cars oontents, would lie injured
by the careless or unfair loading of other
miners. The eject u this would IL detn-
msntsl to the morale ~ tle miner, snd
Il sAs urged that great dissatisfaction
would ~ Inevitable II vas also con
,snded thai tho eslriins system Of paying
by tbs osr " fair and siil give rlss Ia lssr
fflotloD than any nev system tl.si may
10 dsvised by The eo,ninis-ioh. !, was
explained In suIspost ~ shls that psymsni
by ths nsf systsnl 0ty,Alns IA the extent 81
VI p~r oea, ~ the sniife tonnASe ln tl,s
Northern anthfselis field
After . thorough dl.russian ~ the cub.
yset by bo,h sldss, tls oIsssisss, throush
iLsu ssssssi representative, thsn Told IL
easasals~asn tilsi tho, DID nat obl.s snd