The Lamar register., 1903-03-25
REPORT OF TIE ANTHRACITE
COAL STRIKE COMMISSION

present methods of payment for coal
mined shall be adhered to unless
changed by mutual agreement.
IN all of the above awards it Is pro-
yided that all awards like those made
shall be paid to the legal representa-
tives of such employees as may have
died since November. 1902.
The commission makes a number OF
recommendations. which may be sum-
married as follows:
The discontinuance of the system OF
employing the coal and iron police
because this force is believed to have
an irritating effect, and resort to the
regularly constituted peace authorities
in case of necessity.
A stricter enforcement of the laws in
relation to the employment of children.
That the state and federal govern
ments should provide machinery for
| the making of compulsory inveStiga-
tion of difficulties similar to the inves-
tigation which this commission has
made.
The commission expresses the opin-
! ion that with few notifications or
| the federal act of October. 1898, author
| izing a commission to settle controver-
sizes between railroad corporations and
other common-carriers. could be made
the basis of law for arbitration in the
anthracite coal mining business. The
commission. however, takes decided
position against compulsory arbitra-
| ton.
The losses occasioned by the strike is
estimated as follows: AS to mine own
ers, SAG, 100 900; to the mine employees,
in wages, s25 ,OOO. 900; to the transporta-
tion companies, $2S.0O0.O0O.
| hn ,,,ic CT Xphilp there
I have been differences of opinion among
themselves, there never has been a
time during the five months of the ex-
istence of the commission when there
was an unpleasant word spoken among
them, ''or any indication whatever OF
| thought or desire for aught save truth
and justice"
| In a general way they say that the
conditions of the life of mine worker
outside the mines do not justify to their
full extent the adverse criticism made
by their representatives. They also find
] that the social conditions in the min
| ing communities are good and they fail
to find that the wages are SO low among
the miners as necessarily to force them
to nut their small children to work
The commission also finds that the aV-
erage daily rate of earnings in the an
| thracite regions uOeS uOl cohpaic va
favorably with that in other Industries
On the subject of the recognition ol
the Mine Workers Union the commits
sion says that they do not consider tha'
this subject is within the scope OF the
| Jurisdiction conferred upon them. They
do say, however. that the suggestion
of a working agreement between EN-
ployers and employees. embodying the
doctrine of collective bargaining. is one
which the commission believe contains
many hopeful elements for the adjust
ment of relations" Further on they
say:
1.-The present constitution of the
United Mine Workers of America doe'
not present the most inviting induce
ments to the operators to enter into
contractual relations with 1t.
They add:
1.-The union must not undertake tt
assume. or interfere with. the manage
ment of the business of the employer.
They also pronounce as untenable th'
contention that "a majority of the EN-
ployes of an industry. by voluntarll!
associating themselves into union
acquire authority over those VINO d'
not SO associate themselves.