The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-03-26

washington, ~. I. Especial - ne re-
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.
g. sliding scale of wages and a mini
mum wage rate.
3. That no person shall be discrmi-
mated against in the matter of employ
ment by reason of membership or non
membership in any labor organization.
T. Decrease OF time Of working hours.
s That the laws restricting child labor
in the mines be more rigidly enforced,
o. That the awards OF the commission
shall remain operative until March 81,
1000
Upon the general propositions de-
manded by the miners the latter, accord
ing to the report have won in the CON
tention for an increase in wages and
against the employment of child labor.
The main contention of the miners,
however, that the United Mine Workers
be recognized as an organization by the
operators, is lost. The commission de-
clines to make any recommendations OF
specific character as to whether the labor
organization shall be recognized. 1t
treats of the subject in a general way,
but refrains from recommending that the
United Mine Workers organization be
or not.
Basis OF the Award.
A recapitulation of the awards of the
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 I, 1903. Other engineers and
pumpmen 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-
ployes or company men other than those
Tor 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 ad-
lusted by the superintendents of the
mines and the miners shall be referred
for settlement to permanent joint COM
mittee.
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
Mine cars shall be distributed among
The miners as uniformly and equitably |
as possible, and there shall be no CON
certed 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 5 cents in the aver
age price of whitc-ash coal OF sizes above
pea coal, sold at or near New York, be-
tween Perth Amboy and Edgewater, and
to the Bureau of Anthracite
Coal Statistics. above $50 per ton free
On board. the employees shall have an in
crease OF per cent. in their compensa-
.ion which shall continue until a change
in the average price OF said coal works a
reduction or an increase in said addi- |
iional compensation hereunder; but the !
rate OF compensation shall in no case be |
less than that fixed in the award. That
s when the price of said coal reaches
Sass per ton the compensation will be
increased I per cent, to continne until
the price falls below Sass per ton, when
the per cent. increase will cease, or
until the price reaches $46o. per ton,
when an additional per cent. will be ad- |
dcd. and so on.
These average prices shall be computed
by an accountant or commission |
er, named by one OF the circuit judges of
the Third judicial circuit of the United I
States, and paid by the coal operators, !
such compensation as the appointing
Judge may fix, which compensation shall
be distributed among the operators in
to the tonnage OF each mine.
As to the Union.
That no person shall be refused en-
ployment or in any way Disseminated
against on account of membership or
in any labor organiza-
ton, and that there shall be no discrimi-
nation against or interference with any
employc who is not a member of any
labor organization by members of such
organization.
The following general recommenda-
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 OF preserving peace and
protecting property upon the county
and State officers, is one OF doubtful
wisdom, and perhaps tends to invite
conflicts between such officers and idle
men, rather than to 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, at the expense OF the
Packers Fined $500 Each.