The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-03-24

president last October to investigate
the anthracite coal strike, was made
public yesterday. The report is dated
March 18, and is signed by all the
members of the commission, who are
Judge George Gray of Delaware; La
Dor Commissioner Carroll D. Wright
and Brigadier General John M. Wilson,
both Of this city; Bishop John l..
Spalding of Illinois; Thomas H. Wat !
kins OF Pennsylvania, and Edward M.
Parker of this city. The report is to
be Illustrated, and it will be accom- ,
panied by the testimony taken by the
commission, but thus far only the re-
port proper has been printed. This
alone covers 81 pages Of printed mat
ter.
In brief the commission awards
general increase of wages amounting
in most instances to 10 per cent; some
decrease of time; the settlement OF all
disputes by arbitration; fixes a min
imum wage and sliding scale; pro-
yides against discrimination against
persons, either by the mine owners or
the mine workers because of member
ship or non-membership in labor un.
ion; provides that the awards made
shall continue in force until March
81. 1906. The commission discussed
to some extent the matter OF recognl-
ton of the Miners union, but declined
to make any award on this measure.
Following is the commissions own
summary of the awards made:
First-That an increase of 10 per
cent over and above the rates paid in
the month of April. 1902, be paid to
all contract miners for cutting coal.
yardage and other work, for which
standard rates or allowances existed
at that time, from and after November
/, 1902, and during life of this award.
The amount of increase under the
award due under work done between
November 1, 1902, and April 1, 1903,
to be paid on or before June 1, 1903.
Engineers.
Second-That engineers who are
employed in hoisting water shall have
an increase of 10 per cent on their
earnings between November l.. 1902,
and April /, 1908. to be paid on or be-
fore June /, 1908: and from and after
April /, 1908, and during the life OF
this award they shall have eight-houl
shifts, with the same pay which was
in effect in April 1902, and where they
are now working eight-hour shifts the
eight-hour shifts shall have an in
crease of 10 per cent on the wages
which were effective in the severa
positions in April, 1902. Hosting en-
gineers and other engineers and pump
men other than those employed II
hoisting water. who are employed II
positions which are manned contlnu
ously shall have an increase OF 10 pei
cent on their wages between Novem
ber 1, 1902, and April 1, 1903, to pe
paid on or before June /, 1908; ant
from and after April l, 1908, and dur
ing the life of the award they shal
have an increase of per cent on tht
rate of wages which were effective il
the several positions in April, 1902
and in addition they shall be relleve'
from duty on Sundays without loss O
nav. by a man provided by the EN-
ployes to relieve them during tn
hours of day shift.
Firemen.
That firemen shall have an increas
of 10 per cent in their earnings be
tween November /, 1902, and April
1903. to be paid on or before June
1903. and from and after April l. l9O;
anG during the life of the award the
shal; have eight-lour shifts, with tn
same wages per day, week or mont
as were paid in each position in Aprl
1902, and all employees and compan
men other than those for which tn
commission makes special award sha
be paid an increase of 10 per cen
on their earnings between Novembe
/. 1902. and April 1, 1908, to be pal
on or before June 1, 1903, and frol
and after April 1, 1908, and durin
the life of this award they shall b
paid on the basis Of nine-hour da.
receiving therefor the same wages
were paid in April. 1902, for 1O-hor
day. Overtime in excess of nine houl
in any day to be paid at proportions
rate per hour.
Third-During the life of thi
award the present methods of pa
rlent for coal mined shall be adhere