The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-09-12
FINDS FOR OPERATORS
Carroll D. Wright Decides Five
Grievances of Coal Miners.
THE RIGHT TO DISCHARGE MEN
Saws Award Of Commission Sustains
Operators in Putting Men OH VITA
out Giving Cause-ShouId Take Back
WI NN"0 ~
Old Employees.

Oio employees.
Scranton. Pa. Sept. 9-IIon. Car
roll d. Wright, the umpire to whom
was referred the five disputes be-
tween the operators and miners rep
resentatives on the board of concili-
alton. appointed under the provisions
of the anthracite mine strike commits
sion. has fled his findings with I. d.
Nichols. secretary of the board. The
dealing with the question OF employ
ers' right to discharge men for any
cause other than that of connection
with a labor union, Umpire Wright
agrees wholly with the contentious
of the operators representatives. and
declares that the right of an employer
to discharge without giving the cause
of the discharge IS sustained by inc
award OF the commission. As TO the
rockmen's dispute the umpire says
they do not come under the ava d.
The complaint OF Thomas Tanner is
moi sustained in regard to the allie
cations OF discrimination on the part
of The Lehigh Coal and Navigation
COMPANY and Coke Bros x Co tie
saws that these companies should take
back old men, instead OF putting on
new men. in all cases where the old
men are competent and have not been
convicted OF or not awaiting trial Tor
crime committed during the strike
The umpire's findings cover p pages
of typewritlug. The resume prepared
by the Cancellation board for the press
reads rs follows
Grievance No II - Complaint OF
Thomas Tanner that he was receiving
less wages for 10 hours per day than
he had received for l2-h0ur day pre-
vious to the strike.
He received previous to the strike
sl.SS per day FOR 10 hours. On April
LIST his hours were reduced from u
to 10. and his wages to $l77 per day
The S177 per day includes an advance
of IL 1-e of a per cent. of his former
hourly rate of wages.
The miners representatives, on the
board claimed that he was entitled 10
the same days wages Of 10 hours as
he had formerly received for II.
The umpire decided that mo injus-
tice had been done Mr. Tanner. His
employers have in his case carried ont
the provisions of the award OF the
anthracite coal commission"
The petition Of Thomas Tanner
therefore. is not sustained.
Grievance No. S-Claim of discrimi-
nation against Coke Bros. & Co. by
employees who were not reinstated
when work was resumed. as per agree
ment signed by the superintendent Of
the company.
Mentioning one complainant namsd'
Harry Brosius. the umpire says: Il
find that In the ase OF Harry Brosius
Coke Bros. ought to give him employ
ment."
Grievance No i0-Complaint Of dis
elimination and blacklist Of employees
Of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation
Company. who were not reinstated at
the ending OF the strike.
The umpire decides that it has not
been shown that the men were dis
eliminated against on account Of mem
bership of the union, but he IS OF
the opinion that discrimination existed
against a small number of men. and
makes the statement:
What the motive Of the discrimi-
nation has been it Is impossible to
decide. but I am clearly of the opin-
ion as in the case of Coke Bros. &
Co. that the Lehigh Coal and Navi-
cation Company ought to give prefer
ence to all their old men-those em-
ployed prior 10 the strike-who. have
not been convicted Of crime commit
ted during the strike. or are not now
under arrest awaiting trial or are not
incompetent. or have not been guilty
of misdemeanor TO render their en-
ployment undesirable. The terms OF
the submission and the language OF
the award under 1t make this conclu-
sion inevitable"
Grievance No. 45-Complaint of I'M
Just discharge Of William Mowry
against the Philadelphia and Read
ing Coal and Iron Company.
Leading up to the final award, the
umpire says:
Taking the rulings Of the court.
the assertion Of the anthracite coal
strike commission. the clauses in the
agreement made by and with the
United Mine Workers Of America
whether on the one side or the other
there can be no doubt that man
has right to quit the service of his
employer whenever he sees fit. with |
or without giving any cause provided |
he gives proper notice. and that the
employer has a perfect right To en-
ploy and discharge men In accordance |
with the conditions OF his industry; |
that he is not Obliged to give any !
cause for discharge. but that he |
should, as in the reverse case, give
proper notice.
rms right to discharge must. there |
fore. be sustained Any other view |
of the case would result in compelling |
men to work for an employer when !
they did not wish to, and thus enslaye |
them. when. on the other hand, II
would compel employers to employ |
men whether the men we're incompe-
tent or not. and would thus stagnate
business and work to the injury OF
all other employees"
Grievance No 62-Complaint of John
Bowin and Richard Roderlck. contrac-
tors for driving rock tunnels, ETC.,
against the action of their employer
under the award of the anthracite coal
etri1,o com rniccinn. the nmriOVeS haY-