The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-03-25
Matters That are Discussed by Law
Makers and Others.
/ VIg1OY FOR The MINERS.
President Roosevelt in the Hands
of His Friends, Otherwise the
Machine Politicians of the
Boss PIatt Stripe.

Washington, March 23.-Ihe decls-
ion of the Anthracite Coal Strike
Commission has just been made pub
lie and will doubtless be regarded as
a victory for the miners, not only in
that it awards to them the increase in
wages for which they originally struck,
but in that it refutes the economic
propositions advanced by President
Baer and other mine operators. On
this subject the Commission says,
"Undoubtedly the proposition that
men who own the property and carry
On the business must control it is
generally true and its maintenance is
necessary to the political and eco
nomical welfare of society: but it is
also true that where a business is of
such magnitude and its physical
conditions are such as to constitute
natural monopoly, it is affected with
public interest which cannot be
ignored by those who control it. -
While submitting that they do not feel
authorized, under existing conditions,
to advocate compulsory arbitration the
Commissioners recommend law pro-
posed by Charles F. Adams which pro-
vides for federal Intervention in time
of extensive conflicts between en-
ployers and employees.
The specific awards of the Commls-
sion, by which both operators and
miners are bound, give to the latter a
general 10 per cent increase in wages
beginning with April 1902. Men
employed nine hours are to be paid
on ten hour basis and provision is
made for an increase in wages of l
per cent for every cent increase in
the wholesale price Of coal above 81. 80
per ton, for pea coal. The average
price of coal is to be determined by a
commissioner appointed by a United
States Circuit Judge and paid by
the operators. The miners are per-
mitted all the check-weighers they
may demand but they are to be paid
in the size of a miners car is to be
met with proportionate increase in
wages. It is further provided that all
disputes arising during the period for
which the Commission makes its
awards, shall be adjudicated by a
"joint conciliatory committee to con-
sist of six members, three to be ap-
pointed by the operators and three oy
the miners. In the event that an
agreement cannot be reached by this
evenly divided committee, the COM
mittee shall select seventh member
who shall cast the deciding vote. No
discrimination shall be made against
union or non-union miners and all
awards shall stand until March 8,
1906.
The special session of the Senate Of
the Fifty-eighth Congress has adjourn.
ed, after ratifying the Panama and
Cuban treaties. Attention now turns
to the action of Colombia on the canal
treaty and the magnitude of the un-
dertaking to which the United States
has. committed itself. 1t is estimated
by those who believe in the success OF
the agreement, that about the autumn
of 1901 some 20, 00o negroes armed with
spades and picks will invade the
isthmus of Panama and begin digging:
It is said by the engineers that 20, OOO
will be a minimum force of laborers
and that as high as $4,000 may be en-
ployed at times. There are now about
1000 men at work under the French
company and every foot Of the ground
for the canal has been broken. There
is no contract labor law which applies
to the isthmus and doubtless negroes
from all the West Indian islands will
be imported and a few may 60 from
the United States, although those al,
ready acclimated will be given prefer,
ence as the amount of Sickness Will
thus be materially diminished. Labor
on the isthmus commands from 40 to
50 cents per day. There are now On
the route of the canal thoroughly
equipped hospitals and these Will
doubtless be kept full to overt1owlng
as none but Americans will be given
the higher grades of work. All de-
tails of the construction will be deter
mined by the Isthmian Canal Com
mission, the members of which the
President will appoint as soon as the
treaty is ratified by Colombia.
The provisions of the Cuban treaty,
as ratified, will not go into effect until
the next session of Congress, as it has
been so amended as to necessitate
favorable action by both houses, and
Senator McEnery of Louisiana tells
your correspondent that he believes
the agreement has been virtually kill
ed, that the House will inevitably
amend any bill approving it and thus
precipitate extended discussion in the
Senate and that the upshot will be ul-
innate and absolute failure of the
whole project. Senator Newlands IN
troduced but subsequently withdrew,
an amendment inviting Cuba to be-
come annexed to the United States
The Senator is confident that when he
reintroduces this amendment next
year it will meet with considerable
support from republicans. Senator
Elkins is already on record as favoring
annexation and others admit that they
favor the proposition but are not ready
to be quoted in favor of it. Mr.. New
lands says that it will be much wiser
to press immigration before the island
becomes filled up with undesirable I'M
migrants, and the leaders of both par
ties admit that annexation is certain
to come some time Senator Newlands
does not stand for anything in the
character of forcible annexation, but