Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-21
Review of the Controversy.


Review Of the Controversy.
These awards and recommendations con-
stitute the closing part of the report. The
earlier pages and the larger portion of the
report are devoted to review of the con-
troyersy which led to the Presidents action
in appointing the commission, to the ap-
pointment itself and to the proceedings of
the commission during its existence They
review IN general way the production of
anthracite coal, refer to the small area of
country In which it Is produced and dwell
at some length on the market conditions
and the prices of coal. They also refer to
the hazardous nature of anthracite coal
mining, and give an estimate of the losses
occaSioned by the strike Those losses thew
estimate as follows
TO the mine owners, $40, 100 600; to the
mine employees In wages, s25, 00O, 600; 20 the
transportation companies s2s000,00O.
III, Inc commissioners say, that in making
ever 1t was practicable to do to acquaint
themselves with the conditions which
brought about the strike.
They have gone through mines and in
Spected the various conditions which the
production of anthracite coal involves; they
have visited the breakers the engine
houses and pumping stations; they have
examined the machinery by which the
mines are protected from water and foul
air; they have talked with the miners at
their work and in their homes and they
nave given attention to the economic do
nestle, scholastic and religious phases of
their lives; they have listened to and di-
rected the examination and cross-examina-
ton of 55S witnesses; they have given free
scope to the counsel who represented the
operators, the non-uinon men and the
miners, and they have devoted an entire
week to hearing their arguments.
The commissioners also say that while
there have been differences of opinion
among themselves, there never has been
time during the five months of the exist
ence of the commission when there was
an unpleasant wordTspoken among them,
'or any indication whatever of thought
or desire of aught save truth and JUS
tice'' .s- ..t.
Condition of Mine Workers.
The commission then take up the de-
mands of the mine workers and the an
swers of the mine OPERATORS giving in de-
tail the reasons for the findings. In a
general way they say that the conditions
of the life Of mine workers outside the
mines do not justify to their full extent
the adverse criticisms made by their rep
resentatives. They also find that the So
cial conditions in the mining communities
are good, and they fail to find that the
wages are so low among the miners as
necessarily to force them to put their
small children to work. The commission
also find that the average daily rate of
earnings in the anthracite regions does
not compare favorably with that in other
industries
Recognition Of Union.
One of the most important parts of the
report is that which deals with the status
of the union. The commissioners say on this
point:
1.-The fourth and last demand of the min
ers is as follows:
1.-The incorporation in an agreement be-
tween the United Mine Workers of America
and the anthracite coal companies of the
wages which shall be paid and the condi-
lions of employment which shall obtain, to-
gether with satisfactory methods for the
adjustment of grievances which may arise
from time to time, to the end that strikes
and lockouts may be unnecessary.
1.-THE commission is constrained to decline
making an award which would compel an
agreement by the operators with the United
Mine Workers Of America; for however i'm
pertantly that order may have participated
in the strike which was inaugurated on the
18th of May last and in its subsequent con-
duct, it is not a party to this submission.
It was distinctly stated at the first meeting
of the commission. that the president of the
United Mine Workers of America appeared
before the commission as the representa-
tive of the mine workers in the anthracite
re eion on whose behalf had been made the
demands which have since been incorporat-
ed in the formal statement of claim filed.
II "a the striking anthracite mine workers,
who annear before the commission as the
pursuine party. 1t Is true that they have
been represented and ably represented, be-
fore the commission by Mr.. Mitchell, but in
so representing them he appeared las the
representative of the anthracite coal mine
workers. and not in his official character
as president of the United Mine Workers of
America"
Here a foot note is added in explanation
Of this understanding, giving President
Raer,s refusal to consent to Mr.. Mitchells
annearance before the commission as presi-
dent of the United. Mine Workers. and
Mitehelrs acceptance, ID, the condition.
Nor does the Comm tssion consider that
| the question of the Recognition of the United
| Mine Workers America is within the
scope of the jurisdiction conferred upon 1t
by the submission 5a' s.S
1.-The first appearance of this demand, SO
! far as this commissioni Is concerned, was at
| its meeting on ther21thsof October last. 1t
| is therefore evident that 1t was not consid-
erred one of the issues. when the submission
was suggested by the operators in their let
| ter to the public, and accepted by the strik-
| ing miners in thslr convention OF octo-
| Der q. IA loo
Views on thesGeneral Question.
1.-THE commission feels however, that it is
incumbent upon 1t to eve some expression
| to Its views on the general question. From
| the correspondence, which passed between
| the coal operators and the officers of the
| United Mine Workers prior to the strike,
| from the volurninous testimony presented
! during the hearings before the commission
| and from the arguments of counsel and
| others, with which the public hearings
/ ,s1 tr la