The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1903-03-26
MEN WIN AND LOSE
Strike Commissions Re-
port Satisfactory.
GREATVICT0RY, SAYS MITCHELL
Zen Per Gent More Pay Granted.
Some Demands Rejected.
=. lIDlNG SCALE AND SHORTER HOURS

A Permanent Committee of ConciIia-
tion Recommended-NoD Discrimina-
tion Against Union or Nonunion>'
Men-Present Methods of Payment
TO He Retaincd-The Practice of
Boycotting Severely Censured.
WASHINGTON, March 23.-The re-
port of the commission appointed by
the president last October to investi-
gate the anthracite coal strike, just
made public, is generally well received.
From the mining regions come reports
of satisfaction with the findings.
President Mitchell is reported TO have
said, "The decision of the strike COM
mission is. on the whole. decided vic.
tory for the miners, and am pleased
with it," The operators as general
thing are more reticent, yet but few ad-
verse comments have been heard.
Briefly stated, the report may be
summed UP as follows:
The miners get an increase of 10 per
cent in wages to contract miners from
Nov. |. 1902, and during the life of
the award.
An increase of 10 per cent in wages
to water hoisting engineers for the
same period.
An increase of 10 per cent in wages
to other engineers, pumpmen and fire
men from Nov l, 1902, to April l, 1908,
and per cent thereafter during the
life of the award.
An increase of 10 per cent in the
wages of all company men and other
employees.
Company men and other employees
not specifically provided for to be paid
on the basis of a nine hour working
day.
Engineers, firemen and pumpmen to
work in eight hour shifts instead of
twelve hour shifts.
Engineers and pumpmen to be re-
lieved on Sundays without loss of pay.
Local boards of arbitration for the
settlement of disputes in individual
collieries.
A sliding scale, by which the miners
wages are increased l per cent for ev-
cry 10 per cent increase in price of
coal
Check weighmen TO be employed at
the colleries by the miners at their
own expense.
Uniform distribution of mine cars
among the miners.
Any increase in the size of mine car
or topping to be accompanied by pro
n ta N In, r,at TO r,a III n
The operators get no specific recogni-
ton of the United Mine Workers.
The present methods of payment for
coal mined shall continue unless
changed by mutual agreement
Concerted effort on the part of the
mine workers to limit output except by
agreement with operators forbidden.
Work not to be suspended pending
settlement of matters referred to arbi-
tration boards.
No discrimination against nonunion
men.
Boycott and violence condemned.
Demand that coal mined be paid for
by weight refused.
Interposition of the state militia in
the coal regions to preserve peace JUS
titled
The commission also makes a num-
ber of recommendation which may be
summarized as follows
The discontinuance of the system of
employing the coal and iron police,
because this force is believed to have
an irritating effect, and a resort to the
regularly constituted peace authorities
in case of necessity.
stricter enforcement of the laws in
relation to the employment of chill
dren.
Regarding the boycott, the commits
sion says:
what is popularity known as the
boycott (a word of evil omen and un
happy origin is n cruel weapon OF
aggression and its use immoral and
antisocial. and the concerted attempt
to accomplish it is a conspiracy al
common law and merits and should re
ceive the punishment due to such q
crime"
The report is to be illustrated, and 4
will be accompanied by the testimony
taken by the commission, but thus faI
only the report proper has been print
ed. This alone covers eighty sever
pages Of printed matter.