The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1903-03-28
COAL STRIKE COMMISSION
THEIR REPORT HAS BEEN GIVEN
TO THE PUBLIC.
Miners Get 10 Per Cent Rslse-EIght
Hours a Days Work-Provides for
Board Of coneiIiation-unlon Not
ACKNOWLEDGMENT Condemned
for Refusing to Arbitrate at First.

NF"sNo'e N0nocWneu
for Refusing to Arbitrate at First.
The report Of the anthracite com.
mission has been made public. Il pro.
Woes In general an increase Of 10
per cent In the rate Of wages paid 10
The contract miners and a reduction
IN the hours per day Of the other mine
workers.
Water hosting engineers will work
hereafter In eighthour shifts with a
10 per cent increase. where they have
been working heretofore in such shifts.
Other engineers and pumpmen will
set 8 per cent increase.
tlfemen viii have eight-hour shifts
ohl! without an increase. Other mine
workers are 10 be paid the same wa
seA ON the basis Of an elght-nour day
That they have been receiving for 10
hour service.
a board Of Cancellation is provided
20 settle disputes arising out OF any
nisintefprelation or application OF the
aommisslons awards. It consists OF
'hree members selected by the opera,
lors and three BY the miners organiza.
ions. and umpire 10 be chosen In case
II Engagement BY one OF the eircui,
Judges Of the Third Judicial district.
No strikes or lock-outs are 10 take
place Nhlle such adjudication is pend.
ing.
The commission declines 70 recog,
aiEe the United Mine Workers of
America az such by compelling opera
-ors 10 enter into an agreement with
The organization. but modites this IN
he manner above stated, and by pro
Fldihg the organization shall have
hand in the machinery where the find
ihgs 81 the commission are put in ef.
feet.
The third demand Of the miners that
coal be- paid by weight wherever prAc-
leAhle 10 refused, the commission re-
iaslnE 10 make an obligatory decision.
II declined 10 On standard ton where
coal is paid for by weight and from
Imposing on the owners of collieries.
where coal ls nov mined by car, any
obligation TO pay By weight II is
accessory. therefore. that check weigh.
men shall be employed when requested
BY = majority u the contract minerf
their wages TO be paid on the miners
sliding scale Wages are provided
sheFcby the miners may increase their
I earnings according 10 the increase IN
ID" market price Of coal above the
rates awarded being In all cases the
[ minimum
There shall be no discrimination
| against any workman because ~
membership or non membership in in.
I Dor organizations. nor shall there be
Interference by union men with non
aBionls,s Awards shall continue IN
force Ln,ll March 81 1906.
Particular stress is laid on the fac;
hat the findings are unanimous. The
chtire report requires 81 printed pages
50 0oo words
One chapter reviews the losses oc-
casioned by the strike. which aggre'
gate approximately i00.s00. 600. The
amount Of increase under the award
due for work done between November
| 1. 1899. and April /, 1903. is dealt with
In a separate clause which provides
that il shall he paid on or before June
!. 1903
one interesting chapter in the sum
mary Is tina, Of the condition Of the mi
ner's life. The commission finds the
contention il not fully justified that
the wages paid are insufficient TO maiu.
tain an American standard Of living
During the last 20 years there has
been steady improvement in the
miners home. The social conditions
are good and the percentage OF
churches is above the average.
The wages Of the anthracite miners
are not lower than those paid the btu
mtnous workers The average daily
rate Of earnings compares favorably
with other industries requiring equal
skill and training. The annual earn
lnrE Of the contract miners are be-
tween $3.50 and $500 year Mining
should. however. be olassed as a dan
serous industry. ranking with the most
, hazardous.
Regarding lawlessness the report
saws the governor was justified In cali
|, ing on, troops, but that the mine work
, ers' region as a whole was well dis
nosed Good citizens characterize the
bovcott As immoral, anti-social, cruel
and cowardly where applied to detense'
, less women and children.
, /, says the blacklist is equally bad
, and should be frowned down by all
I honorable men.
, I, condemns the practice OF employ
ing deputies upon request and at the
ovpense Of the employers. II irritates
The men. secures the service OF many
unprincipled persons and is against
,he doctrine that the county and state
nCscers are abundantly able to pre-
serve the peace and protect property
The employment Of coal and Iron
police is unwise.
The commission can not recommend
compulsory arbitration.
Il does think. however, that th'
state and federal government shoulC
nrovide machinery for what may d
;, allied a compulsory investigation O.
. contentious when they arise
Z /, condemns the operators In no
II agreeing to arbitration at FIRST Tn
commlaslon could not see Its way u
!" make a concession
!. New York.-when seen the pres
: dents Of the operating coal ROADS y
Is NN" -. A. anhlnn Of the an