Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-03-28

port OF the Anthracite Coal Strike Com
mission, appointed by the President to
Investigate the differences between the
operators and miners in the Pennsylvania
anthracite region. just made public oc-
cupies 81 printed pages. bearing date OF
March Is. 1908, and is signed by the
seven members OF the commission.
Briefly stated. the report recommends;
I. Increase in wages OF miners at an
average OF 10 per cent.
?. a sliding scale of wages and mini
MUM wage rate
3. That no person shall be discrimi-
mated against i'll the matter OF employ
ment by reason OF membership or nom
membership in any labor organization.
4. Decrease OF time OF working hours.
5. hat the laws restricting child labor
in the mines be more rigidly enforced.
Q. That the awards OF the commission
shall remain operative until March 81,
1906
Upon the general propositions de
manded by the miners the latter. accord
ing TO the report have won in the con
tention for all increase i'll wages and
against the employment OF child labor.
lIldlli SblllclillCl OI tllc IlllliCIS.
however. that the United Mine Workers
be recognized as an organization by the
operators. is lost. The commission de
clines 10 make any recommendations OF a
specific character as to whether the labor
organization shall be recognized. 1t
treats OF the subject in general way,
but rcfrains from recommending that the
/ United Mine Workers organization be
recognized or not
Basis of the Award.
A recapitulation Of the awards OF the
commission is as follows:
That an increase of 10 per cent in
wages be paid TO all contract miners.
Engineers employed in hosting water
shall have an increase OF 10 per cent on
their earnings between November I. 1902.
and April /. 1908. Other engineers and
pumpmcn shall have an increase of 10
per cent. on their earnings covering the
same period.
Firemen shall have an increase OF 10
per cent. for the same period. All en-
ploycs or company men other than those
for whom special awards are made shall
have an increase OF 10 per cent. for the
period named
During the life of the award the pres
ent methods OF payment shall be adhered
to. unless changed by mutual agreement
Any difficulty or disagreement arising
out OF the award which cannot be adj
justed by the superintendent of the
mines and the miners shall be referred
/ for settlement to permanent Joint COM
nittce
No suspension OF work shall take place
pending the settlement OF the differences.
Whenever requested BY majority OF
the contract miners check weighmen or
check docking bosses, or both, shall be
employed.
Mine cars shall be distributed among
the miners as uniformly and equitably
as possible. and there shall be no CON
| ccrtcd effort on the part OF miners to
| limit the coal output In all cases where
the miners are paid by the car. the in
crease OF wages is to be based upon the
cars in use.
The Sliding Scale.
A sliding scale OF wages shall be adopt
ed. as follows:
For each increase OF cents in the aver
age price OF whitc-ash coal OF sizes above
i pea coal. sold at or near New York. be-
tween Perth Amboy and Edgewater and
reported to the Bureau OF Anthracite
Coal Statistics. above 81 so per ton free
on board. the employees shall have an in
crease of per cent. i'll their compensa-
ton, which shall continue until a change
in the average price OF said coal works 4
reduction or an increase in said add
tional compensation hereunder: but the
rate OF compensation shall i'll no case be
| less than that fixed i'll the award That
is. when the price OF said coal reaches
Sass per ton the compensation will be
increased per cent. to contnnc until
the price falls below Sass per ton. when
the l per cent. increase will cease. or
until the price reaches $500 per ton.
when an additional per cent. will be adj
ded and so on.
These average prices shall be computed
monthly by an accountant or commission
er, named BY one of the circuit judges OF
the Third judicial circuit OF the United
States. and paid by the coal operators.
such compensation as the appointing
Judge may fix. which compensation shall
be distributed among the operators i'll
proportion to the tonnage OF each mine.
As to the Union.
That no person shall be refused en-
ploymcnt or III any way Disseminated
against on account of membership or
non-memberShip III any labor organiza-
ton. and that there shall be no diScriini-
nation against or interference with any
employc who is not member Of any
labor organization b. members OF such
organization.
The following general recommended
tons are contained in the report:
The commission thinks that the
practice OF employing deputies. upon
the request and at the expense OF en-
ployers. instead OF throwing the whole
responsibility oil preserving peace and
protecting property upon the county
and State officers. is one OF doubtful
wisdom. ard perhaps tends to invite
conflicts between such officers and idle
men. rather than IL avert them. Peace
and order should be maintained AT any
cost. and should be maintained by reg
ularly appointed and responsible Off
GERS and deputies. 4: the expense OF the